UN Women Regional Director concludes visit to Sri Lanka, reinforces push for gender equality

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Author: Le-Anne Fernando Weerasekera

Concluding a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Christine Arab, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country while highlighting persistent gender gaps in economic participation, representation and protection from violence.

The visit, which took place from 25–26 March, focused on strengthening partnerships with the Government, development partners and civil society at a critical moment in Sri Lanka’s recovery and development.

During her stay, Arab held high-level discussions with the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, the Honourable Saroja Savithri Paulraj, centred on policy reform, expanding women’s economic opportunities and intensifying efforts to end violence against women and girls. These engagements underscored the importance of coordinated national action to ensure that gender equality remains a central pillar of the country’s progress.

Two people stand side by side indoors, facing the camera. On the right is Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. She is wearing a black top and a dark outer layer, with her hands gently clasped in front of her. On the left is a representative from the Australian Government, wearing a navy-blue short-sleeved shirt. Both are standing in a calm, formal setting. Behind them, the Australian national flag is placed upright, clearly visible between the two individuals. The room appears to be an office or meeting space, with light coming in from a window and neutral-coloured walls. The photo reflects a professional diplomatic engagement, highlighting collaboration and partnership between UN Women and the Government of Australia during the Regional Director’s visit to Sri Lanka. Photo by UN Women Sri Lanka/Prashani Dias

Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific with H.E. Matthew Duckworth, High Commissioner of Australia, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 26 March. Photo: UN Women Sri Lanka/Prashani Dias

Two women stand side by side indoors, facing the camera. On the right is Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. She is wearing a light-coloured top with a patterned red outer layer, standing with her hands relaxed in front of her. On the left is H.E. Isabelle Martin, High Commissioner of Canada, dressed in a dark blazer over a light blue shirt. Both women stand upright in a formal and respectful posture. Behind them, an official crest is displayed on a white wall, indicating a diplomatic or government setting. The photo reflects a formal meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and highlights collaboration and partnership between UN Women and the Government of Canada during the Regional Director’s visit. Photo by UN Women Sri Lanka/Esther Hoole

Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific with H.E. Isabelle Martin, High Commissioner of Canada, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 25 March. Photo: UN Women Sri Lanka/Esther Hoole

Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific with Naoaki Kamoshida, Minister/Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 25 March. Photo: UN Women Sri Lanka/Embassy of Japan

 

Arab also met with representatives from key diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, including the Australian and Canadian High Commissioners and their teams and the Embassy of Japan. These discussions highlighted the value of sustained international cooperation in promoting inclusive and green development, strengthening women’s leadership and supporting gender-responsive initiatives across Sri Lanka.

Five people stand close together indoors for a group photo. Christine Arab stands in the centre, wearing a light-coloured, long-sleeved jacket over a top. To her left, Ramaaya Salgado wears a patterned sari with a dark blouse. The other three people wear smart, formal clothing: two wear light-coloured shirts with dark trousers, and one wears a dark blazer over a light shirt. They face the camera and stand in a line, with their arms relaxed at their sides. The mix of a sari and business attire highlights both traditional dress and office wear. The clothing is neat and professional, suitable for an official meeting. Photo by UNW Sri Lanka/Ruvin de Silva

Christine Arab, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific (centre) and Ramaaya Salgado, Head of Office, UN Women Sri Lanka (first on left), with members of the National Commission on Women (NCW) Padma Gunaratne (2ndon left); Janaha Selvaras (2nd from right) and Kalana Senarathna, (last on right) in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 26 March. Photo: UNW Sri Lanka/Ruvin de Silva

A significant component of the visit was Arab’s engagement with civil society organizations, recognizing their vital role in driving change at the grass-roots level. These interactions emphasized the importance of community-led approaches in shaping real change for women and girls, and the important role that Sri Lanka’s women’s movement has played in Asia in advancing gender equality.

Ashika Gunasena, CEO of Chrysalis, said: “achieving meaningful, lasting impact requires a shift towards integrated systems change, where sectors do not operate in isolation but in alignment. Civil society organizations, despite operating in competitive spaces, must come together with a shared purpose, leveraging collective strengths to achieve gender equality, drive inclusive, community-led solutions that are sustainable and scalable.”

Commenting on the opportunity for discussion, Nabeela Iqbal, Founder of the Sisterhood Initiative, stated: “as young CSOs we appreciate the opportunity to directly engage with the UNW Regional Office to share our concerns and look at how we can strategize our work together.”

Arab underscored that gender equality is fundamental to Sri Lanka’s inclusive recovery and long-term resilience in a speech during her visit: “Data, strong institutions, and meaningful partnerships are essential to ensuring that women and girls can fully contribute to and benefit from the country’s development.”

She further highlighted, during an appearance on the national television programme Face to Face, that advancing women’s empowerment is both a social necessity and an economic priority: “Investing in women is not only a matter of rights, but a driver of economic growth and sustainable development for Sri Lanka.”

One of the key highlights of the visit was the launch of the Sri Lanka Country Gender Equality Profile, a comprehensive analysis aimed at informing evidence-based policymaking and guiding strategic investments. The launch event brought together stakeholders from government, civil society and the development community to discuss practical pathways for accelerating progress on gender equality.

Speaking on the panel, Dr. Padma Gunaratne, Member of the National Commission on Women (2025–present) and Consultant Neurologist, stated that "Sri Lanka stands at a critical moment to strengthen its gender governance architecture. In this regard, it is essential to ensure that the National Commission on Women is both independent and well-resourced, while also clarifying and reinforcing the mandates of key institutions. Embedding coordinated and accountable mechanisms across government, can ensure that commitments to gender equality translate into real, lasting change for women and girls."

Discussions focused on the role of oversight bodies in strengthening enforcement mechanisms, protecting rights and promoting gender-responsive governance, particularly as Sri Lanka moves closer to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Five women are seated side by side on a stage during a formal panel discussion. From left to right are Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, who is moderating the discussion, followed by panelists Farzana Haniffa, Savithri Wijesekera, Deepika Udagama, and Dr. Padma Gunaratne. Each panelist is seated on a chair behind a low table, with microphones and water glasses placed in front of them. Behind the panel, a large screen displays the word “Commissioners,” indicating the focus of the discussion. The setting appears to be a formal conference or public forum. The photo captures a moment of dialogue and leadership, highlighting women experts engaging in discussion on governance, rights, and gender equality during UN Women’s engagement in Sri Lanka. Photo by UN Women Sri Lanka/Ruvin de Silva

From left: Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, moderating the panel discussion, and panelists Farzana Haniffa; Savithri Wijesekera; Deepika Udagama, and Dr. Padma Gunaratne, on 26 March. Photo: UN Women Sri Lanka/Ruvin de Silva

Throughout her engagements, Arab reiterated the need to strengthen institutions, invest in robust data systems and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate progress towards gender equality.

UN Women continues to work closely with the Government of Sri Lanka, development partners and civil society to support policies and programmes that promote equal rights, expand leadership opportunities, and enhance economic participation for women and girls nationwide.

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