Nine chiefs of foreign missions in Colombo gather

Nine female heads of foreign missions in Colombo, together with high-level Sri Lankan female government officials gathered to mark International Women’s Day, held under the theme, ‘Breaking the bias’, on 08 March. The event was hosted by Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing of Indonesia, The Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and other government officials met as a group for the first time.

Participants from the diplomatic and multilateral community included Ambassador Ho Thi Thanh Truc of Vietnam, Ambassador Julie Chung of the United States, Ambassador Trine Joranli Eskedal of Norway, Ambassador Tanja Gonggrijp of the Netherlands, High Commissioner Sarah Hulton of the United Kingdom, Ambassador Rita Manella of Italy, Ambassador Demet Sekercioglu of Turkey, and ILO Country Director Simrin Singh.

As the field of diplomacy was historically reserved for men, each of the nine Chiefs of Missions in Sri Lanka has faced and overcome adversity in pursuing their careers, and each is now eager to work together to help break the bias and empower the next generation of women diplomats and women leaders. The group of female Chiefs of Mission said that they hoped this was just the first of an ongoing effort at collaboration in the space of Women’s Empowerment in Sri Lanka. Future programmes will include mentoring sessions, volunteer opportunities, and visits to girls’ schools.