Business

Women workers speak out for fair pay, safety and dignity

Published

3 weeks ago

2026/04/21

Women workers with Rev.Sr. Noel Christine Fernando pledge that they will continue their struggle for a decent wage, better working conditions, safety of workers, healthcare facilities and for a limit to extensive working hours, from the government and employers.

Women workers who gathered at the Shramabimani Centre in Seeduwa to mark World Women’s Day on March 29 demanded a living wage that matches the rising cost of living, decent working conditions, safety of workers, better healthcare facilities and limiting the extensive working hours, from the government and employers.

Free Trade Zone (FTZ) workers urged the lawmakers and their employers to understand the silent tears shed amid the sound of machines.

“We face frequent humiliation and insults within and outside work which a woman cannot bear but we go through them to feed our children, parents and other dependents in our homes, said Shriani Fernando, an employee of a garment factory at the Katunayake FTZ.

Many such sad stories were narrated on the appalling living and working conditions of female workers who have left behind their families, kith and kin to keep the wolf from the door.

“There is no privacy in a ten by ten room shared with other workers who have to walk back to their rooms late night through lonely streets, said Indrani Weerasinghe, a mother who has to feed five mouths with the little wage she earns as a factory employee.

Female workers who are compelled to leave the safety of their homes at a very tender age to support the family fall prey to men seeking opportunities to satisfy their carnal desires.

The predator could either be the employer, landlord, a friend, the partner or a sympathizer with ulterior motives.

“While walking back to our rooms men ask us whether they could give us a lift. When we refuse the offer they pass disgusting remarks, a young worker said.

Speech and hearing impaired workers said that they too are capable of doing any work as others.

They said we have eyes, a good brain, hands and feet to work. We need to be treated like all others instead of attracting verbal sympathies.

Many workers who are victims of sexual exploitation and harassment keep silent to safeguard their jobs.

“We know the outcome if we speak against the unfair treatment by our bosses. If we lose our jobs who will feed our children, said Susumali Dissanayake, a mother of four employed at a garment factory in Gampaha.

What is saddening and gruesome is the act of some workers compensating the low wage or income by offering themselves to fulfill the insatiable sexual appetite of certain men.

Women garment workers in FTZs face severe exploitation, including 16-hour workdays, unachievable production targets, sexual harassment, and hazardous conditions. Many endure poverty, wage theft, and lack of basic facilities, often resulting in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) due to poor sanitation and limited bathroom access

Landless female workers in the Gampaha District urged the present authorities to bring an end to their homeless state by fulfilling a fundamental right to live in a house of their own in a decent way.

“The manner in which we are treated sometimes by our landlords is similar to being a slave. Shifting houses each year or two is nothing short of being refugees who have no status and dignity, said A.Shridevi from Walana, Katunayaka.

“We have been living like gypsies moving from one house to another without a permanent address for a long time. What we ask from the government is to give us the title deeds to the houses we are in now so that we have some status and respect, said Shandani Fernando, a member of the Association of Homeless Families in Gampaha.

Unpleasant language

“When we fail to pay the rent by one day we hear so unpleasant language from the landlords and some of us have broken family relations due to misunderstanding while sharing the same house with the siblings, she said.

Rev.Sr Noel Christine Fernando, a prominent rights activist who leads the Sramabimani Kendraya (or Shramabimani Centre) in Seeduwa, a rights group focusing on worker solidarity, particularly within the free trade zones said the battle to secure the rights of workers will go on whichever government is in power.

“It was never a smooth sailing for the Sharmaabimani centre since its start in 1994. However, it waded through high tides, rough waters and stood through thick and thin to be what it is today branching out for every worker to take rest and shelter, Sister Fernando said.

She said it’s these worker’s toil and tears that bring the much needed foreign exchange to the country. We believe this government that came to power through the ballot of the landless people will heed their cry and provide them a permanent house.

Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, core founder and director of Shramaabimani Centre said under whatever condition ‘we musn’t forget the vision and the mission that we are called to ensure justice for the oppressed and the marginalized people’

He said the condition of the landless community in the Gampaha district and in the rest of the country is similar to the estate community who have been living for over 200 years without proper status which reveals the extent of social inequality and discrimination in a nation that is signatory to many UN conventions on right to life and decent living.

“A bottom-top discussion and collaboration with a people-friendly and people-centred administrative mechanism is critical to address the persisting issue of the ‘unknown poor’ in the country whose call for a permanent house has gone unheeded for many decades, he said.

According to the UN an increasing number of people are driven from their homes by crises such as conflict, political instability, climate change, and economic hardship. A record number of people are forcibly displaced and – in an increasingly urbanizing world – displacement is becoming an urban phenomenon.

Meanwhile poverty in Sri Lanka has been rising since the economic crisis in 2022 where many households in the ‘middle income’ bracket have been pushed down to the ‘poor’ segment.

According to the World Bank poverty continued to increase in 2021, and doubled between 2021 and 2022, from 13.1 to 25.0 percent ($3.65 per capita, 2017 PPP) adding 2.5 million people into poverty in 2022.

Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

By Lalin Fernandopulle

All News Advertisement

Business

Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum strengthens economic ties between Sri Lanka and Vietnam

Published

12 hours ago

2026/05/9

Priyan

Marking a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam, the Sri Lanka– Vietnam Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum was successfully held on Friday (08) at the Hilton Colombo.

The Forum, jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, was held in parallel with the State Visit of President Tô Lâm of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The event was attended by President Tô Lâm and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Forum underscored the importance of the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries and reflected the shared commitment to expanding economic cooperation.

The primary objective of the Forum was to further strengthen bilateral economic ties by focusing on key priorities including the expansion of trade, promotion of investment and enhancement of tourism cooperation. The event also provided an opportunity to explore new avenues of collaboration, strengthen business-to-business engagement and facilitate greater market access by bringing together senior government officials, entrepreneurs and industry leaders from both countries on a common platform.

During the Forum, direct air connectivity between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City was officially launched. The new services, operated by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, are expected to further strengthen relations between the two nations and their people.

Six Memoranda of Understanding covering key areas of cooperation were also signed during the Forum. In addition, a notable development was the establishment of the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Business Council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Alongside the Forum, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board organised a business networking session, providing Sri Lankan and Vietnamese entrepreneurs with the opportunity to engage directly with one another. The event received strong participation from the private sectors of both countries, with businesses expressing keen interest in expanding trade and establishing resilient supply chains.

Representing Sri Lanka at the event were Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Environment , Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development ,Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A.Vimalenthirarajah, Chairman of the Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe along with several other dignitaries and officials.

Representing Vietnam were Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Organisation Commission , Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Commission for Policies and Strategies , Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Politburo Member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Phan Van Giang, Politburo Member and Minister of Public Security, Luong Tam Quang and Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Le Hoai Trung, among others.

(PMD)

Business

SL to launch first Dedicated Sustainable Tourism Association in South Asia

Published

14 hours ago

2026/05/9

Thilina Walpola

Tourism personnel at the press briefing

‘Sri Lanka embarks on a journey towards a more sustainable and prosperous tourism industry.’

The Executive Committee of the Sustainable Tourism Association of Sri Lanka (SusTour) announced the above at its final meeting held on May 6, at Connaisance head office, Colombo. The committee finalised all preparations for the official launch in August of the first private sector led, non-governmental Sustainable Tourism Association in South Asia, as most tourism associations in Asia operate as dedicated Eco Tourism entities while this is probably the first in Asia.

This momentous event will be officiated by Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, who has agreed to inaugurate the Association in conjunction with a media launch.

Prof. Ranasinghe is not only a qualified academic specializing in sustainable tourism but also a passionate advocate for the development of sustainable tourism practices in Sri Lanka. His involvement is pivotal, as he has expressed his commitment to provide unwavering support to the Sustainable Tourism Association of Sri Lanka.

In addition to Prof. Ranasinghe’s support, Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman, SLTDA and Dheera Hettiarchchi, chairman, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, have also pledged their cooperation in the implementation of sustainable tourism initiatives through their respective state organisations. Their combined expertise and resources are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of tourism in Sri Lanka, ensuring that it aligns with sustainable development goals.

This inauguration marks a significant step towards fostering a sustainable tourism framework in Sri Lanka, one that prioritizes environmental preservation, cultural heritage and economic viability. The Sustainable Tourism Association of Sri Lanka is poised to lead the charge in promoting responsible tourism practices, ensuring that the industry flourishes while respecting the rich natural and cultural resources of the island.

Speaking at an exclusive press interview the Tourism Deputy Minister noted; “I am thrilled to see the private sector actively participating in the promotion of sustainable development, particularly within the tourism industry. This partnership is not just beneficial but essential, as it represents a viable mission that requires the joint engagement of both government and private entities. By working together, we can ensure that our tourism practices not only enhance economic growth but also preserve our natural resources and cultural heritage for future generations. It is through this collaborative approach that we can create lasting change and fulfill our commitment to sustainability.”

Adding to this collaborative effort, Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth said Australia would continue its long-term support for sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka. Australia has contributed more than 50 million Australian dollars over the past decade to sustainable tourism initiatives in Sri Lanka, including to support more sustainable planning, accreditation and skills development for this crucial sector. The High Commissioner confirmed that this support would continue into the future and highlighted Australia’s partnership with the Market Development Facility (MDF), which had recently launched a new initiative using data analytics to help Sri Lankan policy makers better understand how travelers discover and engage with destinations.

“Our vision is to create a platform where all stakeholders including product manufacturers can collaborate and share best practices in sustainable tourism, said Chandra Wickramasinghe, elected founder president of the Association. “We aim to ensure that tourism in Sri Lanka not only provides economic benefits but also contributes positively to the environment and local communities, he added.

The founders of STASL-SusTour believe that sustainable tourism is the ‘Future of World Tourism’ and is crucial for the long-term viability of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, which is a significant contributor to the nation’s economy. By fostering responsible travel practices, the association seeks to educate stakeholders, including tourists and businesses along with manufacturers about the importance of sustainability.

‘ The association plans to launch various initiatives, including workshops, awareness campaigns and partnerships with local and international organizations focused on sustainable tourism, said Nalin Malwenna, newly elected secretary. Through these efforts, SusTour hopes to position Sri Lanka as a leading destination for eco-conscious travelers looking for authentic and responsible travel experiences.

“The establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Association of Sri Lanka arrives at a pivotal moment, signaling a commitment to a more sustainable future in the nation’s tourism landscape, said elected treasurer Dr. Samantha Pathirathne.

By Claude Gunasekera

Business

Siyapatha Finance unveils 62nd branch in dynamic Horana City

Published

14 hours ago

2026/05/9

Thilina Walpola

Premier finance company Siyapatha Finance PLC recently unveiled its newest branch in Horana, successfully expanding its islandwide branch network to 62 branches. Located in one of the fastest-emerging economic hotspots in the Kalutara District, the Horana branch offers Siyapatha Finance’s wide range of holistic financial services including leasing, fixed deposits, gold financing, business loans,fast draft, factoring, and Smart Pay – the Company’s bill payment facility.

The branch was declared open by Siyapatha Finance PLC Directors- Jayanath Gunawardena and Ms. Sriyani Ranathunga , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mathisha Hewavitharana in the presence of Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rajeev De Silva, Ms. Dinuli Gihansi Perera -student of Govinna Maha Vidyalaya , Horana who has been selected to represent Sri Lanka for Asian Boxing Championship 2026 , Senior Management, staff members as well as Police HQI Ranga Perera , Grama Niladhari Mr. Chaminda Kumara, representatives of the government and private banks and insurance companies and well-wishers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Siyapatha Finance PLC CEO Mathisha Hewavitharana remarked: “Horana is a region that has captured massive interest nationally in terms of commercial and social development in recent years. Expanding our branch network to this area gives us a significant opportunity to broaden our reach and serve a larger, diverse ;;customer base’’.