Business

Where were the women?

Published

7 months ago

2025/06/3

It’s been 70 years since the Bandung Conference brought leaders of Asian and African countries together in a collective effort to forefront anti-colonial and anti-imperial struggles. Twenty-nine Asian and African countries attended and the 1955 conference symbolised a ‘new spirit of solidarity of the Third World’ . The conference underscored two principles of Third World politics – decolonisation and development – and led to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and an alternative conversation on how the world should be ordered including a proposal for a New International Economic Order (NIEO).

It was a time when Sri Lanka punched significantly above her weight – Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike was an acknowledged leader of NAM, Dr Gamani Corea pushed for more favourable trade terms for the global south from his position as the Secretary of UNCTAD, and Ambassador Shirley Amerasinghe pushed against international competition to acquire the resources of the sea bed and was a key player in the International Law of the Sea conferences. It was a time when the themes of the Bandung conference, economic cooperation, respect for fundamental human rights and the principles of the UN Charter, promotion of world peace and recognition of the equality of all races and the equality of all nations large and small, framed the discussions between nations.

Today we live in a world that is experiencing economic, ecological and geo-political crises, and where the above themes of Bandung have been sidelined if not completely obliterated. Many global south countries are deeply entrenched in debt, world peace is wilfully ignored, and genocidal actions and structural violence proliferate from Burma to Palestine. It is also a world in which limiting global warming to 1.5° Celsius is no longer possible and the consequences of climate change presents an existential crisis. It is a time where the revival of the “Bandung spirit” should provide a resonance that can inspire and inform the foreign policies and international relations of small states like Sri Lanka.

A two-day conference in Colombo, organised by IDEAS in collaboration with the BCIS and Yukthi on the 2nd and 3rd of June 2025 at the BCIS in Colombo, will bring together thinkers from Latin America, Africa and Asia to share what the Bandung spirit can portend for the world going forward. BCIS and partners will also organise a series of events leading up to the conference, and following it, to keep the spirit of Bandung at the forefront of our thinking.

In this article I ask the question famously raised by Cynthia Enloe in her writings on international relations –where were the women? It seems like there were NO female delegates at the conference . And even though the 10 points of the Bandung Declaration reiterated the principles of the UN Charter and set a standard for international relations’ and that championed coexistence instead of co-destruction, it did not explicitly refer to women’s rights. Neither this lack of representation nor the omission of women’s rights from the agenda or outcome of the conference meant that women were missing from anti-colonial and anti-imperial struggles that underscored the Bandung spirit – far from it.

In the first half of the 20th century, starting before Bandung, different constellations of national and international women’s organisations planned and implemented three conferences that foreshadowed the rise of women’s international solidarity in Asia and Africa and could have, as some commentators have argued, informed the emerging pan-Asian and Afro-Asian movement for anti-imperialist regional cooperation symbolized by Bandung.

In 1949 the Conference of the Women of Asia was held in Beijing, China, hosted by the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF) together with the All-China Women’s Democratic Federation and Mahila Atma Rakshi Samiti (MARS) or Women’s Self-Defense Committee from West Bengal, India; in 1958 the Asian-African Conference of Women was held in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), under the aegis of five national women’s organizations from Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Burma, and Sri Lanka; and in 1961 Afro-Asian Women’s Conference was held in Cairo, Egypt, organized by the Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) with strong support from the Non-Aligned Movement, including Gamel Abdel Nasser’s government in Egypt.

Not only did the 1949 conference precede Bandung but it took place well before the now familiar United Nations World Conferences on Women, the first of which was held in Mexico City in 1975 ushering in the UN Decade for Women. The early 20th century gatherings of women from Africa and Asia were the outcome of what was a long-standing critique by women from the colonised countries of Western feminism and the development of solidarity along common issues faced by women in the global south

There were several strands to the agenda and demands of global south women at this point in history. A social reform agenda demanded better access for women to education, health care, and social welfare and sought to “modernise” cultural and religious practices. In some ways this agenda mirrored the agitation by nationalist reformers in societies that were demanding decolonisation who saw education and freedom for women, and monogamy, as markers of modernity and development, They strived to create the “enlightened” woman, a partner for the “bourgeois man”, who negated everything that was considered ‘backward’ in the traditions of the colonised societies. The concept of the “new woman” became eagerly adopted, albeit with regional variations, from Egypt to Japan, China to Korea While the ‘new woman’ image at one level reflected characteristics of the emancipated women of Europe and the USA, and the demand for education allowed women from the bourgeois classes to come out of their homes and into various professions and social work, there was also an underlying conservative emphasis on traditional ideals of the woman as wife and mother, reinforcing women’s role as care givers despite the quest for legal equality.

A second strand of feminist agitation In the early 20th century comprised a nationalist and state agenda that sought equal rights for women in independent nations and women’s full participation in public life. As women became more educated their demands also stretched to obtaining voting rights. This agitation was fuelled as the growing feminist literature of the women’s movement (books, journals and magazines) began catering to the educated and literate ‘new’ woman and reported the efforts for women’s emancipation in different parts of the world. So women in Asia and Africa were able to access information about suffragist and feminist struggles in Europe and by the early decades of the 20th century women in China, India, Japan and Sri Lanka were agitating for women’s suffrage in their countries, organising demonstrations and storming the legislature when voting rights were not granted.

What has received the least attention however in the historic accounts has been that strand of feminist organising that sought to restructure the economy as well as social relations and cultural and political practices to enfranchise all women. These feminist movements tended to push their change agenda beyond the nationalist struggles even after formal independence was granted. They recognised that economic pressures from imperial powers and the national propertied classes and business lobbies weakened the political will of governments to institute reforms. Colonial forms of ownership of the means of production continued under the new decolonised systems. They mobilised peasant women and landless migrants in urban areas with the aim of building a movement led by rural, peasant, working class and middle class women. Their activism was based on anti-imperialism, mass-based organising, a membership dominated by rural women and anti-capitalism. It was this strand of feminist analysis and thinking that dominated the first of the international conferences that was held in Beijing in 1949. Some commentators have argued that this ideological stance of the first pan-Asian women’s conference informed the emerging pan-Asian and Afro-Asian movement for anti-imperialist regional cooperation symbolized by Bandung.

(Ms Priyanthi Fernando is the Executive Director of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. The views expressed in this article are her own.)

(To be continued)

by Priyanthi Fernando

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Business

eChannelling introduces ‘eHomecare’ as SL’s first doctor-led elderly care service

Published

10 hours ago

2025/12/27

Thilina Walpola

Officials from eChannelling PLC and SLT, along with doctors, at the event

Supporting families with medically supervised care for elderly individuals in the comfort of their own homes, SLT-MOBITEL and eChannelling PLC, in partnership with medical experts from Golden Years Care, have introduced eHomecare’, Sri Lanka’s first doctor‑led elderly‑care service.

The pioneering initiative is designed to address a growing societal need. The service launched by eChannelling, Sri Lanka’s leading digital healthcare solutions provider, brings together the technological capabilities of SLT-MOBITEL with eChannelling’s healthcare expertise and Golden Years Care’s extensive experience in compassionate home-based support, ensuring quality standards throughout the program.

With increasing migration, many adult children are now living or working abroad, leaving their elderly parents alone in Sri Lanka. For many seniors, mobility challenges make it difficult to access hospitals for routine checkups, medication, or urgent medical attention. eHomecare seeks to fill this critical gap, offering a structured, reliable, and compassionate solution for families navigating these challenges.

The purpose of eHomecare is to support families in assuring their elderly loved ones receive the medical care they need, even when children are living overseas or occupied with demanding careers, guaranteeing elderly individuals are supported with dignity.

eHomecare provides families with a safe and trustworthy platform to arrange professional doctor‑led home visits, benefit from real‑time assessments and guidance from qualified healthcare professionals and ensure the elderly are supported with holistic care.

More than a convenience, eHomecare is a vital solution to a pressing social concern, offering peace of mind to families and guaranteeing seniors receive the respect, and medical attention they deserve.

Key features of the service include doctor-led home visits providing personalized care tailored to individual health needs, continuous assessment and recommendations for ongoing care for optimal health management, prompt medical attention during emergencies, with qualified healthcare professionals available when needed and a comprehensive, professional, and trustworthy approach to elderly care that prioritizes dignity and wellbeing.

Through eHomecare, families gain access to a reliable network of medical professionals who understand the unique needs of elderly individuals. The service bridges the distance between overseas children and their aging parents, with medical support, and emotional reassurance that loved ones are being cared for with compassion and expertise.

Business

NDB shows strong growth, rising investment potential

Published

10 hours ago

2025/12/27

Thilina Walpola

In a striking testament to both corporate resilience and a recovering macroeconomic environment, the National Development Bank (NDB) has delivered a set of third-quarter results for 2025 that far exceed market expectations. The figures, detailed in a recent analysis by First Capital Research (FCR), paint a picture of a financial institution leveraging favourable conditions to accelerate growth, justify upward revisions in valuation, and present a compelling case to investors for long-term value creation.

The headline figure is arresting: a 145.6% year-on-year surge in earnings for 3Q2025. This explosive growth was primarily engineered by a dual engine of stronger net interest income, which grew 13.8% YoY to LKR 9.1 billion, and a significant 24.3% rise in net fee and commission income. The former benefits directly from the prevailing low-interest-rate environment, which has helped margins and stimulated borrowing, while the latter points to broad-based business momentum across the bank’s operations, from trade finance to its digital platforms. A remarkable leap in other income – to LKR 1.04 billion from a mere LKR 27.7 million a year earlier – further bolstered the bottom line.

Perhaps as encouraging as the income growth is the notable improvement in credit quality. Impairment charges declined by a substantial 46.9% year-on-year, a clear signal of improving macroeconomic conditions and a healthier loan book. This trend underscores a banking sector that is emerging from the shadows of past economic stress with greater stability.

Buoyed by this outperformance, FCR has significantly revised its earnings forecasts upward. Their 2025 estimate has been lifted by 33.5% to LKR 11.6 billion, and the 2026 forecast by 26.1% to LKR 13.2 billion. This positive reassessment flows directly into the bank’s perceived fair value. FCR now assigns a fair value of LKR 180.0 per share for 2025, implying a 27% potential upside, and LKR 200.0 for 2026, suggesting a 42% increase from current levels. When expected dividend per share (DPS) returns are included, the total return projections become even more attractive, estimated at 33% for 2025 and 48% for 2026.

First Capital maintains a “BUY” recommendation on NDB, citing a constructive outlook founded on a favourable macro backdrop and stable interest-rate trends. These factors are expected to continue fuelling loan book expansion. Furthermore, growth in trade finance and an accelerating adoption of digital banking services are anticipated to provide sustained momentum to fee-based earnings, diversifying the bank’s revenue streams.

However, the report does not ignore the clouds on the horizon. It highlights near-term risks to asset quality, particularly stemming from recent adverse weather events. Given NDB’s sizable exposure to the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, which is often vulnerable to such disruptions, the analysis expects a possible uptick in non-performing loans (NPLs) in the coming quarters. This is a prudent note of caution for investors, emphasizing that the recovery path may not be entirely smooth.

Nevertheless, the overarching narrative from these results is one of a bank positioned at the confluence of economic recovery and strategic execution. NDB appears to be translating improved national economic indicators into robust financial performance. Its “resilient base,” demonstrated by strengthening fundamentals and declining impairments, provides the foundation for “rising potential,” captured in the revised earnings and fair value estimates.

For the investing public, the message from this analysis is clear: NDB is presented as a institution harnessing the winds of economic change to propel itself forward. While mindful of sector-specific risks, the data suggests a strong trajectory for growth and value appreciation, making it a standout candidate for potential investors.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Business

Sri Lankan tea sees a week of robust activity

Published

10 hours ago

2025/12/27

Thilina Walpola

A tea garden in Akuressa: The low grown segment, comprising approximately 2.4 M/Kgs, met with fair to good demand

The Colombo tea auctions witnessed a week of robust activity and generally firm prices, as total offerings rose significantly to 6.0 million kilograms, according to the latest market commentary from leading brokers Forbes & Walker. This marks a notable increase from the 5.2 million kilograms on offer the previous week.

The market was characterized by good general demand, with an encouraging overall price structure attributed to seasonal interest. The report indicates a nuanced picture across different elevations and tea types.

Offerings from Ex-Estate gardens increased marginally to 0.79 M/Kgs. The sector saw good demand, with prices maintaining a firm to marginally dearer trend. However, within the Western High-Grown region, teas in the Best category were marginally weaker, while improved and brighter sorts in the Below Best category appreciated. The Nuwara Eliya region remained sluggish, while the Uva/Uda Pussellawa regions sold at levels consistent with the previous week.

The High and Medium Grown CTC market saw firm conditions for PF1 grades, which gained by Rs. 20 per kg or more. In contrast, the corresponding Low Grown PF1 varieties weakened by a similar margin. BP1 grades were scarcely available.

The Low Grown segment, comprising approximately 2.4 M/Kgs, met with fair to good demand. The Premium category, in particular, witnessed good interest.

BOP1 grades were fully firm. OP1 varieties saw Best and Below Best types appreciate, while high-priced OPs were easier. OPAs saw high-priced teas become dearer.

FBOPs were generally firm, and Select Best FF1s were firm to selectively dearer.

Very Tippy teas met with good, firm demand, with Best and Below Best varieties appreciating.

The broker report noted that shippers to traditional markets like the United Kingdom, the European continent, and South Africa continued to be selective in their purchases. Meanwhile, there was fair activity from buyers representing China, Japan, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Middle East.

Forbes & Walker concluded that the overall price picture is encouraging, driven by a combination of selective international demand and seasonal factors. The firm to dearer trend at the lower end of the market and for specific grades indicates a solid underlying demand, despite some regional and qualitative weaknesses. The trade will be watching closely to see if this firm trend holds as new seasonal crops come to market.