Dynamic women launch initiative to drive change at the grassroots
View(s):Organised by Shyamala School of Art, celebrating 25 years of service this year, together with Unity Mission Trust, celebrating 18 years of service to the youth of Sri Lanka, the initiative is anchored under the title “HerProgress. OurProsperity,” and is dedicated to driving meaningful change across Sri Lankan society at the grassroots.
Sessions in progress
Moving beyond symbolic celebration, the initiative has been designed as a structured and impact-driven platform focused on addressing critical challenges faced by women in their day-to-day lives. It aims to influence public perception, societal behaviour, encourage policy dialogue, and mobilise communities to take action in advancing the safety, dignity, and thriving of women and girls across the country.
The launch brought together a collective of 50 dynamic women leaders representing diverse professional, academic, entrepreneurial, and C-Suite executive backgrounds, together with selected female National Youth Leaders of the Unity Mission Trust from different areas of Sri Lanka.
During the launch of Phase One of a long-term three-phase project, organisers announced seven priority pillars of focus identified as requiring urgent national attention, setting the direction for focused national dialogue and action.
IWD Session Chairpersons (Left to right): Michelle Herft, Dr. Nadee Dissanayake, Premila Paulraj, Shyamala Pinto-Jayawardena (Conference Chairperson), Dr. Ransirini De Silva, Lakmali Hapuarachchi, Dr. Kumarangi Vithanage and Vijula Arulanandam
The seven pillars are:
- Creating more awareness of the need for protection and provision of physical and psychological safety, and the hygiene needs of women and girls.
- Educating men and women at all levels to respect, protect, and preserve the dignity of women and girls.
- Creating awareness of legal recourse available for safeguarding women, and knowledge of how to access such critical support.
- Strengthening systems to safeguard women and girls from harassment and abuse in domestic, school, university, office, workplace, and public space environments.
- Women’s Health and Brain Health: Addressing Period Poverty and Hygiene for Holistic Wellness.
- Safeguarding women and girls from digital exploitation, cyber crime, and technology addiction.
- Economic freedom through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, self-employment, and mitigating climate and environmental limitations on livelihoods.
The inaugural round table conference that followed the launch, held under the theme “Safeguarding and the Thriving of Women and Girls in Sri Lanka” saw breakout discussions where participants examined the key issues within each focus area and developed practical short-term and long-term recommendations that can be advanced through communities, institutions, and policy platforms.
Chaired by Shyamala Pinto-Jayawardena, and moderated by Sasha Pinto-Jayawardena, the session chairpersons were Dr. Ransirini De Silva, Premila Paulraj, Vijula Arulampalam, Dr. Nadee Dissanayake, Dr. Kumarangi Vithanage, Michelle Herft and Lakmali Hapuarachchi. The event hostess was Kshyahla Pinto-Jayawardena.
A formal signed declaration outlined the key challenges of the seven priority areas and the recommended practical solutions, calling for collective action to create safer domestic, public, school and corporate environments, strengthen dignity and respect, and unlock greater opportunities for women and girls, ultimately securing a stronger future for Sri Lanka’s youth under the guiding vision of HerProgress. OurProsperity.
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