Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has disproportionately affected women, with only 32% participating in the workforce and 25% owning SMEs. Many are forced into low-skilled overseas labour or struggle with limited resources. In response, HSBC, in partnership with Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya (LJSS) and Sarvodaya Fusion, launched the Women Empowerment and Digital Inclusion Programme in July 2023. This two-year initiative empowers women-led SMEs in five provinces by providing training, mentorship, seed funding, and market access, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty).

The program aims to promote economic equality, and support women entrepreneurs. So far, 193 women have been trained in financial literacy, sustainable entrepreneurship, leadership, and digital marketing. A business incubator provides ongoing mentorship, and an online platform helps women to market their products and connect with local and international buyers.

In November 2024, the program’s Idea Hackathon identified 20 outstanding women entrepreneurs from diverse industries, including apparel, food, agriculture, and crafts, who were awarded seed funding to expand their businesses. This funding will not only support the growth of women-led enterprises but also create new job opportunities, marking a pivotal milestone in the initiative’s journey.

Beyond financial support, the Women Empowerment and Digital Inclusion Programme equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become leaders in their communities and industries. By fostering sustainable business growth and social resilience, the initiative contributes to long-term economic empowerment and inclusive development in Sri Lanka.

“As a woman in business and a seamstress, the knowledge I have gained through this program has been immense. The seed funding I received has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a sustainable woman entrepreneur, and I am now able to grow and expand my business” says Wasanthi Madumali a women entrepreneur of the programmme from the Southern Province in Sri Lanka.

Sarvodaya Fusion, is the ICT for Development (ICT4D) arm of the Sarvodaya movement, is committed to leveraging digital technology for social and economic development across Sri Lanka. With a vision to transform all Sri Lankan communities into responsible digital citizens, it focuses on bridging the digital divide and empowering underserved and marginalized communities. With over 15 years of experience in community-based works Sarvodaya Fusion have reached over 1/5th of the communities.

SLT-MOBITEL Nebula Institute of Technology, the educational arm of SLT-MOBITEL, has been honoured with international recognition at the prestigious Pearson BTEC Higher Education Forum 2024, highlighting the second consecutive year of acknowledgement for excellence.

The Institute received the International Level 3 and Level 5 Higher National Recognition Award for 2023, signifying commitment to delivering high-quality technological education, during a ceremony held recently at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo.

The award was presented to the Nebula Institute by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Distinguished Pearson representatives including Premila Paulraj, Director, Employability & Qualifications, Pearson South Asia; Siddharth Parnerkar, Senior Director, HEQ International Selling, Pearson South Asia; and Suriya Bibile, Deputy General Manager, Sales, BTEC, PTE, and HEd Courseware, Sri Lanka & Maldives were also present. Janaka Silva, General Manager, Human Capital Development, SLT, received the accolade on behalf of the SLT-MOBITEL Nebula Institute, while Eng. Darshana Bandara participated in the occasion.

Nebula Institute of Technology offers a comprehensive range of cutting-edge technology and engineering programs designed to meet the evolving demands of the technology sector. The carefully curated curriculum addresses critical industry challenges providing students with practical, market-relevant qualifications to transform career potential.

The Institute’s educational portfolio includes BEng (Hons) in Electrical & Electrical Engineering, BEng (Hons) in Robotic & Artificial Engineering, BSc (Hons) in Data Science, Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Digital Technologies, Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND in Computing, and Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Foundation.

Additional programs such as Certificate In Applied Information Technology CAIT, Telecommunication Technician National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 4/3, Optical Fibre Courses, Network Security Courses and the CompTIA Security program are also available.

Greenpeace South Asia commends the Sri Lankan Cabinet of Minister’s approval for the proposal made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism to sign the Agreement on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).[1] This landmark decision represents a pivotal step towards addressing the escalating threats facing our oceans due to unregulated human activities in international waters.

“We commend Sri Lanka for its leadership in prioritizing the health of our oceans, especially as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). This move demonstrates a commitment to fostering collaboration across nations for the conservation of marine biodiversity,” said Anita Perera, Campaigner for Greenpeace South Asia.

By ratifying the BBNJ agreement, commonly known as the Global Oceans Treaty, Sri Lanka will have the opportunity to support large-scale marine protected areas, promote sustainable fisheries management, and encourage marine scientific research. This is particularly vital given the growing concerns over overexploitation, habitat degradation, and the loss of biodiversity in international waters.

The Treaty provides a robust mechanism to establish vast protected areas on the High Seas — beyond 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coastlines.[2] These zones will allow marine life to recover from industrial overfishing and pollution while fostering thriving ecosystems. A healthy ocean is essential not only for climate stability but also for sustaining the livelihoods of millions globally, including Sri Lanka’s coastal communities, fishers and seafarers.

Greenpeace South Asia also recognizes the challenges faced by developing nations like Sri Lanka, including limited financial resources and technical capacity, in implementing this landmark agreement. We strongly support the call for enhanced capacity-building efforts, resource-sharing, and international cooperation to ensure effective implementation.

Last year, Sri Lanka and the wider South Asia region faced devastating climate change impacts, including heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, mudslides, and coastal erosion. These disasters caused significant casualties and directly affected the economy. Our environment — encompassing the climate, forests, and oceans — is interconnected, with each system supporting the other. It is crucial for leaders to recognize these connections and prioritize the protection of ecosystems that can best mitigate climate change and extreme weather events.

In February 2024, Greenpeace’s iconic ship, the Rainbow Warrior, visited Sri Lanka, coinciding with the opening of the Greenpeace South Asia office in the country. This milestone marked a significant step in raising public awareness about ocean conservation and the critical importance of the United Nations’ BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement for an island nation like Sri Lanka. A series of events were organized throughout 2024, including public awareness campaigns, social media outreach, and workshops for Civil Society Organizations to empower local groups with knowledge and advocacy tools. Greenpeace facilitated letters to presidential candidates, urging the prioritization of signing and ratifying the BBNJ Agreement, which establishes a legal framework for creating networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as well as Environment Impact Assessment (EIAs) standards in areas beyond national jurisdiction, ensures fair sharing of benefits from Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs), and promotes capacity building, technology transfer, and sustainable funding mechanisms for marine conservation.