UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Christine Arab, concluded a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka (25–26 March), emphasising that closing gender gaps in labour force participation, access to economic opportunities and decision-making are critical to the country’s inclusive recovery. She also launched the Sri Lanka Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP), a comprehensive analysis designed to inform evidence-based policymaking and strategic investments.

The CGEP notes that despite achieving high human development levels and ranking first in South Asia by 2022, Sri Lanka has continued to regress on gender equality markers, falling sharply from 16th place in the Global Gender Gap Index in 2010 to 130th by 2025 – a decline of over 100 places in just 15 years.

The publication features detailed gender statistics on women’s economic and political participation, education, health and morbidity, poverty and social protection, safety and security, as well as the gendered impacts of climate change and disasters. It also includes analysis of the country’s legal and institutional frameworks, acknowledging positive judicial and administrative reforms, while observing that persistent and layered inequalities and discriminatory social norms continue to undermine the rights of many women across the country. The profile concludes with recommendations for gender-transformative governance.

During her visit, Arab held a high-level discussion with the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, focusing on strengthening collaboration on policy reform, women’s economic empowerment, and efforts to end violence against women and girls.

“Gender equality is fundamental to Sri Lanka’s inclusive recovery and long-term resilience,” said Arab. “Data, strong institutions and meaningful partnerships are essential to ensuring that women and girls can fully contribute to and benefit from the country’s development.”

She also met with the High Commissioners of Australia and Canada, and their teams, and with the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka to reinforce partnerships supporting inclusive development and women’s leadership. Arab met members of Sri Lanka’s National Commission on Women (NCW) underscoring the importance of community-driven change and women’s voices in shaping policy.

Engagement with civil society organizations was another key component of the visit. Speaking during the discussion, Samitha Sugathimala, Programme Director, Foundation for Innovative Social Development (FISD), emphasized that “the shrinking space for civil society remains a critical challenge, particularly for organizations working on gender equality and social justice. In such contexts, collective action among civil society actors is not just important but essential to resist pushback, amplify marginalized voices and sustain community-driven change.”

In all her engagements, Arab reiterated the importance of strengthening institutions, investing in data and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to accelerate progress on gender equality.

The keynote address by Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and former Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, provided an in-depth analysis of the state of gender equality in Sri Lanka. It grounded these priorities in the country’s lived realities and highlighted persistent structural challenges.

A panel discussion, moderated by Arab, brought together current and former members of independent commissions to collectively explore the structural and institutional barriers that continue to impede progress, examine gaps in accountability and rights protection, and identify priority reforms required to drive meaningful, gender responsive governance in the final stretch towards 2030.

Panelist Dr. Padma Gunaratne, Member, NCW (2025–present) and Consultant Neurologist, stated that “Sri Lanka stands at a critical moment to strengthen its gender governance architecture. In this regard, it is essential to ensure that the National Commission on Women is both independent and well-resourced, while also clarifying and reinforcing the mandates of key institutions.”

Arab also appeared in an exclusive national television interview on Face to Face, where she highlighted the economic and social imperative of advancing women’s empowerment, noting that “investing in women is not only a matter of rights, but a driver of economic growth and sustainable development for Sri Lanka.”

UN Women remains committed to working alongside the Government of Sri Lanka, development partners and civil society to advance policies and programmes that promote equal rights, leadership opportunities, and economic participation for women and girls across the country.

A programme to expand cadet activities in schools to promote national reconciliation and unity among the country’s youth was discussed at a workshop held recently in Jaffna.

The workshop, organised by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Defence, was held at the auditorium of the Northern Province Governor’s Office on the 17th under the patronage of Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayahan.

Officials said the expansion of cadeting in schools had been identified as a timely initiative to strengthen bonds among young people across communities while fostering discipline, teamwork and leadership skills.

Addressing the gathering, NCC Director Major General A.P.C.R. Premathilake briefed participants on plans to recruit new Cadet Platoon Officers and to establish additional cadet platoons in schools across the region.

The National Cadet Corps, which has a history of nearly one and a half centuries, has played a key role in nurturing disciplined and responsible youth while encouraging respect for diversity and teamwork among students.

The workshop was attended by 88 principals and deputy principals from schools in the Jaffna District. Officials said their participation was aimed at encouraging schools in the Northern Province to actively introduce or expand cadet units.

Also present were the Secretary to the Northern Province Governor, the Secretary to the Northern Province Ministry of Education, Zonal Directors of Education in the Jaffna District, and several senior officers of the National Cadet Corps.

Authorities said strengthening cadet activities within the school system would help build stronger relationships among students from different backgrounds while contributing to the development of responsible future leaders.

Police have seized more than 50,000 litres of illegally hoarded fuel and arrested 31 suspects during a series of raids carried out across the country over the past month, police said yesterday.

Police Media Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said the arrests had been made during countrywide operations conducted between 03 March and 04 April.

During the raids, officers recovered over 52,000 litres of fuel, including 47,006 litres of diesel, 2,668 litres of petrol, and 2,706 litres of kerosene, he said.

Wootler said legal action had been initiated against the suspects taken into custody in connection with the illegal stockpiling.

He said the operations were launched on the instructions of the IGP to apprehend those engaged in hoarding fuel and creating inconvenience to the public.

Authorities have intensified surveillance and enforcement measures amid concerns over illegal fuel hoarding and black market activities, particularly in the wake of renewed tensions in the Middle East, which have raised fears of disruptions to global energy supplies.

by Norman Palihawadane