Sri Lankan Prime Minister Receives Shireen Latheef Women’s Leadership Award in the Philippines

13-Mar-2026

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Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has been awarded the Shireen Latheef Women’s Leadership Award in recognition of her dedication to women’s leadership and empowerment.

The award was presented during the International Women’s Day event held on March 10 at the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines, where the Prime Minister delivered the keynote address.

During her speech, the Prime Minister emphasized that unpaid domestic work performed by women, which often goes unrecognized, makes a substantial contribution to both family welfare and the national economy.

She highlighted the importance of acknowledging women’s work and stressed the need for gender-responsive policies and social protection programmes that enable women to fully participate in economic activities.

The Prime Minister also noted that governments and international organisations must work together to remove structural barriers faced by women.

She further stressed the importance of quality education for empowering women and girls, recalling that Sri Lanka has consistently prioritized education. 

Increasing women’s participation in decision-making processes, improving their representation in the labour market, and ensuring equitable access to education are essential for sustainable and just development, she added.

The event was attended by senior officials of the Asian Development Bank, foreign diplomats, and development partners.