Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that since only 35% of women participate in the paid workforce, it is necessary to find ways and means to ensure that women have opportunities to contribute towards the economy through employment opportunities and equal pay while acknowledging and recognising unpaid work and unpaid care work, which are often disproportionately carried out by women.

The Premier made these remarks while attending the official launch of ‘Together for Her: Resilience-building, Inclusivity, and Voices for Equality in Sri Lanka (THRIVE)’, held on Tuesday (25) at the Australian High Commission in Colombo. THRIVE is a five-year initiative implemented by United Nations (UN) Women and Chrysalis, and funded by the Government of Australia. 

This project contributes to achieving ‘Outcome Six – Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment’ – of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Sri Lanka 2023-2027, which has been co-signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN, guiding the work of the UN system in Sri Lanka. The project aims to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Sri Lanka by strengthening the economic and social resilience of marginalised women to navigate and recover from crises, insecurity, and the impacts of climate change, targeting women with disabilities, female-headed households, and women in the plantation sector across six districts – Mannar, Kilinochchi, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Monaragala, and Colombo.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Amarasuriya emphasised that it is statistically proven that 90% of women face sexual harassment in public transport at least once in their lifetime and that the Global Gender Gap Index lists Sri Lanka at 122 among 146 countries, which finds gender disparity not just a women’s issue but a societal challenge that transcends gender, race, religion, and age.

“The administrative process for appointing the Commissioners to the National Commission on Women is currently underway. We have allocated funds to ensure that children from marginalised communities have access to education including providing free uniforms, shoes, sanitary facilities, meals, books, and a stipend. While digital tools offer great potential for development and technological advancement, they are also being misused to silence women, amplify biases, and fuel harassment. It is essential to create an inclusive digital space where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.”