Empowerment for women is not just a nice thing to do; it is the most important economic step Sri Lanka can take right now. Countries that treat women and men equally grow faster and are more stable. Sri Lanka needs this powerful resource—its women—to recover and thrive.
The Good News (Where Sri Lanka Excels)
Sri Lanka has already done great things for women’s Empowerment in basic areas:
- Sheer Numbers: Women make up slightly more than half (51.7%) of the population.
- Education: Almost all women (over 92%) can read and write. Girls’ school enrollment is excellent, often better than boys’.
- Health: Maternal and child health care is strong, putting Sri Lanka ahead of many other developing nations.
The Problem (Where Empowerment is Lacking)
Despite the high education levels, women are still being held back, which hurts the whole country:
- Low Workforce: Only about 32% of women are in the paid workforce (compared to over 70% of men). This means one-third of working-age women are unemployed, which is a huge waste of talent.
- No Seat at the Table: Women hold very few leadership positions. For example, less than 10% of Parliament seats are held by women.
- Safety Issues: Violence against women (at home and work) is still a serious issue, and reporting it is often difficult.
- Lack of Funds: The Government only spends a tiny amount (less than 1%) of the total budget on the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, which is not enough for meaningful change and Empowerment programs.
What We Need to Do (The Path to Full Empowerment)
To achieve full women’s Empowerment and boost the economy, Sri Lanka must make strategic investments:
| Focus Area | Key Action for Empowerment |
| Work & Money (Economic) | 1. Create more flexible, part-time jobs. 2. Provide safe public transport and childcare near workplaces. 3. Give women training for high-value careers (like tech). 4. Increase loans and funding for women-led businesses. |
| Leadership (Political) | 1. Introduce laws (quotas) to guarantee more women are elected to Parliament and local councils. 2. Provide leadership training for women. |
| Post-Conflict Zones | 1. Actively include war widows and female-headed households in rebuilding decisions (Peacebuilding Empowerment). 2. Ensure they can safely access land and jobs. |
| Safety & Support | 1. Improve training for police and judges on gender-based violence. 2. Increase funding for shelters and support services. |
| The Goal | Raise the female workforce rate from 32% to 40% in the next five years to dramatically accelerate economic growth. |