President Anura Kumara’s International Women’s Day message
09-Mar-2026.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended his wishes for a meaningful International Women’s Day, while calling on all women to join hands as pioneers in the country’s determined journey toward building a progressive nation.
He made these remarks in a message issued to mark International Women’s Day.
The message further stated:
For more than a century, International Women’s Day has been celebrated worldwide on March 8 each year. In Sri Lanka, the role played by women in the economic, political, social and cultural spheres is unique. While this day highlights the rights, freedom and safety of women and appreciates the immense responsibilities they bear in all these sectors, we believe that these concerns cannot be limited to a single day.
Women, who represent 52 percent of the country’s population, play a significant role in the national economy. In addition to their unpaid responsibilities as homemakers, women make substantial contributions to the garment industry, plantation sector, foreign employment, as well as the health, education and service sectors.
It should also be remembered with gratitude that the strength provided by women played a key role in many of the economic achievements Sri Lanka recorded as a nation in 2025. To ensure social justice, we have already implemented programmes that promote gender equality and enable women to participate more actively and effectively in economic activities.
As a government, we have prioritized the structural changes necessary to achieve the aspirations of a just society, a free nation, and a free woman. This includes taking action against all forms of violence and discrimination against women at home, during travel, within society, in workplaces, and in the political sphere, while safeguarding and advancing women’s rights.
In a development that marks a change in parliamentary history, the highest number of women Members of Parliament have been elected to Parliament at one time. Additionally, for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, women representatives from the up-country community have been elected to Parliament, marking a unique historical milestone.
Accordingly, we emphasize that it is our responsibility and commitment to nurture a strong and dignified generation of women leaders who will work with equal dedication to the national programme we have initiated to steer the country toward economic, political and social transformation.
Furthermore, the government aims to expand women’s entrepreneurship in the digital and green economy and to develop women entrepreneurs capable of adapting to the economic transformations the country will face in the future.
In this context, I also commend the organization of this year’s Women’s Day under the theme “Women’s Leadership – The Pride of a Prosperous Nation,” which showcases the pride and strength of Sri Lankan women to the world.
