University students in Sri Lanka use UN Women training to claim place in science and technology
Date:
Author: Tuan Rahim*
Colombo, Sri Lanka — When Kenuka Karunakaran walked into the Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka, she carried a backpack and a dream she had had since her primary school days.
“My ambition is to become an entrepreneur,” she said. “There are so few women entrepreneurs in our society, especially those from women-headed families. I want to change that.”
Karunakaran was among the over 100 women undergraduates who took part in UN Women’s MakHer training programme from August 2024 to May 2025. UN Women project partner The Makers Global, an education company, trained them in technical and soft skills for high-growth industries in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and gave them the confidence that they, too, belong in these fields. The Republic of Korea funded the project.
Students from 29 universities and institutions across the island took part in the training, which was done on weekends, both online and offline, in Colombo.
They received hands-on technical training in areas such as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and UX design, alongside modules on communication and leadership. They also received mentoring. Some even landed interviews or job offers.
While women account for nearly half of undergraduate enrolments in STEM subjects in Sri Lanka, their opportunities in the field are constrained by limited internships, finances, and female role models.
“What I personally gained is the realization that a strong ecosystem exists for women passionate about STEM and ready to uplift each other,” Karunakaran said of the MakHer training.
Susanya Karunarathna, another MakHer participants and a student at the University of Peradeniya, said: “Since childhood, I loved IT, engineering and math. This programme is one of the biggest opportunities I’ve ever had. It made me realize — being a woman doesn't hold you back in STEM. I want more girls to see that too.”
Said Prarthana Jayathikala, who started out studying psychology and biosystems but turned to tech: “During my advanced level’s, the technology stream was still new. Many girls were scared. They weren’t sure they could get jobs in tech. Now I’m confident. I can help others through what I’ve learned.”
During the MakHer training, Jayathikala led a team of 12 in developing a capstone project called Her Way, a GPS-based bus tracker that makes public transport safer for women.
Amasa Herath, an undergraduate in mechanical engineering, admits she was intimidated at first.
“I wasn’t sure about STEM,” she said. “The boys always seemed ahead.”
But after the MakHer training, her perspective shifted: “Now, I encourage other girls to take the leap. We belong here too.”
* Tuan Rahim is a UN Women consultant writer.