Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the exclusion of women from decision-making is structurally maintained through gendered power hierarchies, stressing that meaningful change requires transforming institutions and power structures to create environments where women can lead with confidence.

She made these remarks while addressing the World Woman Davos Agenda 2026 on January 21 at the World Woman House, held on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

Speaking at a high-level forum themed “Women Leading the Changing Global Order,” the Prime Minister noted that although women worldwide are increasingly asserting themselves in political, economic and social spheres, their contributions remain systematically undervalued, particularly in unpaid care work, informal labour and agriculture.

Dr. Amarasuriya said women in leadership, especially in politics, often face harassment, character assassination and systemic marginalisation, which discourages participation and reinforces entrenched patriarchal structures. She emphasised that addressing these challenges is not about protection, but about enabling women to exercise leadership with autonomy, authority and confidence.

Highlighting progress in Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister said the country has made historic strides in political representation under the current inclusive government, with 20 women elected to Parliament for the first time. She said this reflects a clear shift towards more inclusive governance.

Concluding her address, Dr. Amarasuriya said leadership should go beyond occupying seats within existing systems and instead focus on restructuring those systems themselves. She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to feminist and intersectional leadership and called on global actors to ensure women and marginalised communities are central to shaping the future global order.

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera said a proposal to empower the committee to directly file complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) will be presented to Parliament shortly.

Speaking to the media in Kandy, Dr. Samaraweera explained that at present, matters related to fraud and corruption uncovered by COPE are referred to the Attorney General, a process that often causes delays as cases must be re-studied before being forwarded to investigative authorities. The proposed change aims to speed up action against corruption.

He said the proposal has already been submitted to the Standing Orders Committee, which has given its consent, and now awaits parliamentary approval. Once approved, COPE will be able to directly hand over evidence and findings to the CID or CIABOC for further investigation.

Dr. Samaraweera noted that there is a recurring pattern of abuse of power by both politicians and public officials, resulting in serious harm to the public and misuse of state funds. He stressed that enabling COPE to act directly is a crucial step toward eliminating fraud, corruption, theft and waste.

He also revealed that several necessary amendments have already been introduced to the Audit Act, with more reforms currently being prepared, expressing hope that all Members of Parliament would support these measures without opposition.

The Sri Lankan delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya showcased the country’s economic recovery, governance reforms and investment opportunities during a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said.

Speaking to the Daily News from Davos, Dr. Fernando said the engagements were aimed at deepening international partnerships and advancing key national priorities at a crucial time for Sri Lanka’s economic progress and sustainable development. He described the meetings as highly successful, with a strong focus on economic recovery, governance reforms, investment promotion, tourism and post-cyclone rebuilding efforts.

He said the delegation emphasised high-end collaborations, partnerships and investor connections, reflecting Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with global stakeholders to support long-term economic stability.

Discussions were held with representatives of the European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the President of Singapore, several UN agencies, the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Sri Lankan business community in Switzerland, and other international organisations and private sector leaders.

Among the key engagements was a meeting with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, which focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing shared interests. A separate meeting with Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the ADB, reviewed ongoing cooperation and future collaboration, with Kanda reaffirming ADB’s readiness to support rebuilding and relief efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

The delegation also met Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, to explore opportunities in aviation services and connectivity, and held discussions with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, during which the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for EU support following the cyclone and requested continued assistance for recovery and development.

At the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub in Davos, the Prime Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s tourism potential and the diverse experiences offered by the country. Meetings were also held with UNDP representatives, including Alexander De Croo, where Sri Lanka expressed gratitude for UN support in flood relief and livelihood assistance.

In addition, talks were held with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding, focusing on private sector engagement and potential areas of collaboration. The delegation also met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, who reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery.

A high-level discussion on addressing challenges in Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector and related environmental concerns was held this morning (22) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the meeting was conducted in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhancing China–Sri Lanka Agricultural Productivity and focused on the joint implementation of programmes to resolve key issues facing the country’s agriculture sector while improving overall productivity.

The discussion explored the potential use of Chinese technology and tools to tackle agricultural challenges and associated environmental issues. Attention was also given to measures to minimise crop damage caused by wild animals.

In addition, participants discussed possible assistance from China for the cleaning and restoration of the Beira Lake, as part of broader environmental rehabilitation efforts.

Those who took part in the discussion included Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Vishvajith Kandegama; Professor Zhang Guozhu of Guizhou University; Cao Xuan and Wei Ping from the Department of Commerce and Management of Hubei Province, along with several other representatives.

Showers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Eastern provinces and in Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Fairly Heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places in Northern, North-central provinces and in Trincomalee districts.

Several spells of showers will occur in Uva and Northwestern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places elsewhere during evening or night.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning.