With International Women’s Day celebrated last weekend, Sri Lankans were seen organising many programmes, events, conferences and awards for women in many fields. It is heartening to see the outpouring of support and care for women’s issues, yet it seems that the attention and respect given to women is seasonal and largely centred on a few key ‘event’ days in the corporate and public calendars.

There are also issues about women, which seldom get any attention. Like in many other countries, issues surrounding gender-based violence and domestic abuse are viewed as ‘uncomfortable’ topics for discussion. We all know someone who has been in a domestic abuse and violence situation. However, what of the support structures for battered women? Few pay any attention to such matters. As such, in Sri Lanka, there are only a few ‘women’s shelters’ that provide temporary refuge to victims of domestic violence and their children. Most of them are primarily run by the Women’s Bureau of Sri Lanka, an institution under the purview of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. According to reports, the bureau runs 10 shelter homes around the country – two independently and eight in partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed between 2020 and 2021 with Women In Need (WIN), Jaffna Social Action Centre (JSAC), Akasa, and the Women’s Development Centre (WDC) to establish eight shelters in seven districts. The Sunday Morning reported that in the 2023 Budget, Rs. 12 million was given to the bureau to run shelter homes. In 2024, this amount increased by only Rs. 600,000. A monthly bill from each home is at least Rs. 100,000, so they are constantly in arrears. In some homes, matrons use their own funds to ensure they don’t close down. It was reported that since the financial responsibility of each shelter was equally between the Women’s Bureau and the respective NGOs, insufficient budgetary allocations over the last five years have left the bureau Rs. 15 million in debt to the NGOs as of January 2025. There are a few privately-run shelters as well, but they have also been under significant financial strain following the economic crisis.  

According to experts, victims of domestic violence need to be in a “beautiful environment” once they have found the courage to leave a dangerous husband/partner or family, but Sri Lanka struggles to provide this due to a lack of funds, resources, and awareness. “They mustn’t end up being victims in both environments,” the expert emphasised. Several NGOs which are involved have noticed a change in society since the economic crisis triggered by Sri Lanka defaulting on its external debt in 2022. Some NGOs usually provide shelter for three weeks to a month, after which the victim has been able to find a relative or friend willing to help. Since the crisis, though, a decrease in community support has been observed as people are unable to afford the cost of an extra person in their home.

Executive Director of WDC Sashi Stephen told The Sunday Morning that the State lacked structures to support women who were subjected to violence and abuse. “The Government should help us,” she said, echoing the same concerns raised by others regarding funding. Funding for shelter homes is difficult as neither international nor private donors are favourably disposed towards funding such long-term initiatives which are not tied to a project. However, shelter homes are necessary as the perpetrator is typically not compelled to leave their house. “It is the abused woman who steps out, usually with two or three children,” Stephen stated. Although the WDC would like to expand its services and provide at least one shelter home per district, the organisation is constrained by the lack of funds. “Women come to us with just the clothes on their backs. Some haven’t even had a bath in days. Rebuilding from that point is expensive,” Stephen added.

The law enforcement agencies tasked with the protection of women and children echoed the communities' views that more than one shelter per district was urgently needed to address the situation. The number of complaints that reach the Sri Lanka Police Bureau for the Investigation of Abuse of Children and Women desks in Police stations islandwide have increased from 2020 to 2023. According to the Police, in 2022, a total of 136,677 complaints were received; in 2023, 136,221; and in 2024 ( up to September), 108,570 complaints were received. As such, the scale of the issue is evident. The government, and other stakeholders ought to address this matter quickly and diligently.