Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized the need for decisive and immediate action to address the challenges, barriers, and discriminatory practices encountered by women both locally and globally.
Speaking at the International Women’s Day celebration organized by the United Nations Association in Sri Lankaat the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo on March 22, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
During the event, awards were presented to women who have made significant contributions in various fields, earning societal recognition.
In her keynote address, Dr. Amarasuriya stressed the importance of safeguarding the fundamental rights of all women, regardless of their socioeconomic status, educational background, religion, ethnicity, or disability. She noted that Sri Lanka has a long history of strong female leaders and that many such individuals were present in the audience.
The Prime Minister outlined the government’s initiatives to promote women’s leadership in politics, business, and social movements, including the enactment of the 2024 Women’s Empowerment Act, which established an Independent National Women’s Commission to institutionalize gender equality.
She also pointed out that while efforts are being made to enhance women’s participation in the workforce—including entrepreneurship programs and digital financial literacy initiatives for rural women—women’s representation in leadership and economic participation remains disproportionately low.
Key concerns raised by the Prime Minister included:
- The need for greater female representation in Parliament, which, despite doubling, still stands at only 10%.
- The low workforce participation rate of women, currently at 32%, compared to their male counterparts.
- The unrealistic expectations placed on women regarding work-life balance.
- The importance of recognizing unpaid caregiving responsibilities undertaken by women.
- The urgent need for legal and social reforms to combat gender-based violence and discrimination.
Dr. Amarasuriya stressed that achieving gender equality requires a collective effort, urging Sri Lanka to strengthen global partnerships and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 5 on Gender Equality.
The event was attended by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Secretary-General of the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka, M.M. Rushaudeen, Assistant Secretary-General Panchali Ratnayake, and other distinguished guests.
