Business
Empowering Sri Lankan women: Highlights from the National Policy Conference on Women’s Access to Decent Work in Sri Lanka
By Kimuthu Kiringoda and Himani Vithanage
Kimuthu Kiringoda is a Research Officer at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) with research interests in health, labour markets, tourism, SMEs and SDGs. She holds a BA (honours) degree in Economics from the University of Colombo. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London and MSc in Sustainable Management from the University of Bedfordshire (UK). (Talk with Kimuthu:
kimuthu@ips.lk)
Himani Vithanage is a Research Assistant working on health, education and labour policy at IPS. She was the recipient of IPS’ Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant for 2021. This blog is based on her research study analysing the issue of school dropouts in the estate sector of Sri Lanka. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Colombo, and a BSc in Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
In Sri Lanka, only 7.7% of working-age females are engaged in formal employment with decent wages and decent working hours. The country’s persistent challenge of low female labour force participation is compounded by a multitude of unique barriers to improving women’s access to decent work.
Decent work is multifaceted, incorporating productive work that delivers a fair income in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity (ILO, 1999). Due to the heavier household and caregiving responsibilities falling on women, they face challenges when participating in the labour force and securing decent work.
Sri Lanka’s labour market is characterised by several gender-specific challenges. Dr Nisha Arunatilake, Director of Research at IPS, notes that employers consider women’s additional household and caregiving responsibilities when hiring workers, affecting the demand for female workers. Furthermore, Sri Lankan legislation places higher costs on employers when hiring females, including maternity leave and added security expenses. Even when women are recruited, they face constraints and disadvantages in opportunities for promotions and career development owing to their household duties.
Another main issue in Sri Lanka is the limited availability of decent jobs, especially outside the Western province. As stated by Dr Arunatilake, “about 30% of the jobs in these areas are in the agriculture sector,” which mostly comprises vulnerable jobs with low income. This, combined with employers’ preference for recruiting males, further restricts women’s access to decent work opportunities.
A recent IPS study revealed that only 8% of Sri Lanka’s working-age population is engaged in formal employment with decent wages and decent working hours. For females, the percentage is 7.7%, lower than the male percentage of 8.3%. The study also emphasised that access to decent work improves when women are English literate and have higher levels of education.
MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka (MLG) announced the appointment of Sarah Nasry as Director & Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
In her new role, Sarah will lead both the Finance and Human Resources functions at MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and people agenda. She holds a distinguished track record across multiple business disciplines, including Supply Chain, ICT, Administration, Corporate Communications, and CSR. Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her most recent position as General Manager – Finance & Business Partnering at Brandix, Sri Lanka’s leading apparel manufacturer.
Recognised for her strengths in business partnering, financial planning, and strategic decision-making, Sarah is also widely respected for nurturing inclusive, people-centric cultures that foster growth and high performance.
Thayalan Bartlett, Executive Chairman of MLG, commented, “Sarah’s appointment follows an extensive search for the right person to lead our finance division through the next phase of our journey. Her wide-ranging experience and strong leadership credentials give me every confidence that she will continue to strengthen the financial integrity and compliance standards we are known for, and the Board looks forward to working closely alongside her in this journey.”
Sarah also marks a significant milestone for the company, becoming the first female member of MLG’s Board of Directors. She will additionally serve on the MLG Executive Committee (ExCo), reinforcing the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion at the leadership level.
Commenting on her appointment, Sarah said, “I am honoured and excited to join MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka and help steer the company into its next chapter. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at MLG to drive financial strength, champion a people-first culture, and build on the company’s strong legacy of creativity and performance.”
Business
Sun Siyam Pasikudah Named Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award Best of the Best Winner for 2025
Sun Siyam Pasikudah, a boutique luxury resort on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, is thrilled to announce its recent win at the Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best for 2025, placing it among the top 10 percent of resorts worldwide. This accolade reflects the resort’s commitment to exceptional guest experiences, sustainable practices, and community engagement.
As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.
Reopened in November 2023 after an extensive transformation, Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers 34 spacious one- and two-bedroom garden and beach pavilions, each featuring bold monochromatic interiors accented with golden tones. The redesign, led by Studio Sixty7, emphasizes a blend of contemporary elegance and local craftsmanship. The resort collaborated with local artisans, showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich talent and cultural heritage.
‘‘We are thrilled to being recognized on par with some of the world’s best resorts. Under just two years since our reopening, this achievement couldn’t be possible with the tremendous effort and support of our world-class team and our guests that keep coming for the unique experiences we offer. We are proud to contribute to Sri Lanka, a destination that is on every traveler’s go-to list,’ said its General Manager, Arshed Refai who has been with Sun Siyam Resorts for over a decade.
Business
Canon celebrates 22nd consecutive year of No. 1 share of global interchangeable-lens digital camera market
Metropolitan Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., the sole authorized distributor for Canon in Sri Lanka, proudly celebrates Canon Inc.’s remarkable achievement in the world of Imaging. Canon’s interchangeable-lens digital cameras, both DSLR and mirrorless, have maintained the No. 1 global market share for an unprecedented 22 consecutive years, from 2003 to 2024. This milestone reaffirms Canon’s legacy of innovation and excellence, solidifying its position as the preferred choice for photographers, cinematographers and vloggers worldwide.
Throughout its 22-year history, the EOS series has led the market with a range of outstanding models. During the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS Kiss Digital (EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D in other regions) in September 2003. By launching this groundbreaking camera, which was competitively priced and featured a compact, lightweight design, Canon spurred growth in the digital SLR market, capturing the top share of the global market and heralding the age of digital SLR cameras.
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