Sri Lanka is home to the world’s first female Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, yet it remains a country with one of the lowest levels of female representation in Parliament globally. Despite this, there has been little progress in increasing female representation in leadership positions within the legislative and executive branches of Government since the country gained independence. Female representation in Sri Lanka’s political institutions has never exceeded 5.8 percent, a figure that has remained remarkably stagnant throughout the years.
This issue extends beyond politics. In the private sector, while progress has been slow, there have been notable developments. For example, 14 Sri Lankan companies have pledged to increase female representation in leadership roles to 20 percent by 2025. These pledges reflect a growing awareness of the need for more inclusive leadership in decision-making positions.
Recognising the importance of improving female leadership, the Government and civil society organisations (CSOs) are beginning to focus on this issue more directly. Women make up 51 percent of Sri Lanka’s population, yet their presence in local and National Government remains disproportionately low. In an effort to address this imbalance, the Government introduced a 25 percent quota for female candidates in local elections in 2017, a significant step towards increasing female political participation.Yet, its impact has yet to reach the national level.
In the 2020 elections, women represented 12 percent of the total candidates. However, the number of women elected to Parliament remained unchanged at 12, maintaining the 5.3 percent representation.This highlights a crucial challenge: while the participation of women in politics has increased in certain areas, the National Parliament and Cabinet still lag behind in achieving gender parity.
Historic milestones
The 2024 general election recorded some remarkable achievements for women in Sri Lanka’s political scene. Sri Lanka has made a significant milestone marking the historical change in its 16th Parliament, with women MPs now holding 10.06 percent of the seats in Parliament, totalling 24 out of 225. The maximum it has been in the history was 5.8 percent in 2010.
One of the most notable events was Dr. Harini Amarasuriya securing the second-highest preferential votes in the history of Sri Lankan elections. She broke the previous record set by Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2020, receiving over 655,289 preferential votes from the Colombo district. Dr. Harini’s achievement is not just a personal triumph, but a breakthrough for women in leadership. Her victory made history as she became Sri Lanka’s 16th Prime Minister, the first woman to hold the office from a non-political background. Another significant development was the election of Samival Ambika, the first woman to be elected to Parliament from the Upcountry Tamil community.
By defeating entrenched political families and securing more votes than many male counterparts, Ambika broke the long standing male dominance in Upcountry politics. Her victory challenges the dynastic political control of the Thondamans and Digambaram families, who have dominated the plantation Tamil community for over 70 years. Ambika’s success offers hope for land rights, rural development, and addressing long standing issues in the hill country.
Women in the Cabinet
While the progress in terms of female MPs is encouraging, women’s representation in the Cabinet remains limited. On November 18, 2024, the newly formed NPP Government took office with a 21 member Cabinet, but only two women (Including the PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya) were appointed to key ministerial positions. This continues a long standing trend in Sri Lanka, where only 2-3 women have been included in the Cabinet at most. Women have typically been assigned roles in ministries such as Health, Education or Women and Child Affairs, areas that are often considered “gendered” issues rather than broader governance roles. Among the 29 Deputy Ministers appointed, none are women, highlighting a noticeable gender gap in the current leadership appointments.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya holds a leadership role in the Cabinet, which signals a potential shift in how women might be integrated into more prominent political positions in the future. Despite this, the overall number of women in the Cabinet remains disappointingly low, with many areas of governance still largely male dominated.
Women’s representation in politics is crucial for creating a fair and balanced society. In Sri Lanka, Parliament is the highest decision-making body in the country, and it plays a key role in shaping laws and policies. For a democracy to truly reflect the needs and values of its people, it must include both men and women in leadership roles.
Gender equality in politics is not just about fairness, it’s also essential for achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal five, which calls for equal opportunities for women in decision-making at all levels.
Studies show that when women hold leadership positions, they are more likely to address issues like gender-based violence, education, and healthcare, which leads to a safer, healthier, and more prosperous society for everyone.
Women in politics also help improve the quality of life for families and communities. Research shows that women are more likely to focus on policies that benefit children, families, and minority groups, such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. Their leadership brings cooperation across party lines, as well as a more inclusive approach to solving problems.
Women in politics have a powerful role model effect, inspiring girls to aim higher and close the gender gap in education and career goals. Studies in India and Fiji show that female leaders encourage more girls to pursue education and leadership roles. Moreover, women represent half of the world’s population, so for a Government to truly serve all its people, it must be inclusive of women. Having women in decision-making roles ensures that a wider range of issues are discussed and that solutions reflect the experiences and needs of all citizens.
Women’s political participation strengthens democracy by promoting equality, diversity, and better policy outcomes. It benefits not only women but also everyone in society by creating a government that listens to and addresses the concerns of all its people
The 2024 general election in Sri Lanka has been a milestone for women’s representation in politics. For the first time in the country’s history, 24 women were elected to Parliament, pushing the female representation to 10.06 percent, the highest ever recorded. Of these 24 women, 21 represent the National People’s Power (NPP), signalling a significant shift towards greater female participation in politics. Two women were elected from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party. The NPP made a strong commitment to gender inclusivity, fielding 36 women candidates in the election, a notable increase from previous years.
Despite these strides, the overall representation of women in Sri Lanka’s highest decision-making body remains alarmingly low. Even though women’s electoral participation has been steadily increasing, there is still a significant gap between the number of female candidates and elected women representatives.
The road ahead
Although the 2024 general election marked a significant step forward for women’s participation in Sri Lankan politics, much work remains to be done. Women’s representation in Parliament and the Cabinet is still far below the level of gender equality needed for true democratic legitimacy. The increase in the number of female candidates, particularly from the NPP, shows that change is possible, but it will take more than just a growing number of women on the ballot. It requires political parties to make a meaningful commitment to gender equity in leadership roles. To address this, substantial legal and policy reforms are needed to create a more inclusive environment.
Key recommendations for moving forward include empowering women through targeted training. This should focus on the legal framework, decision-making skills, media handling, and negotiation techniques to prepare women for leadership roles. Capacity building and peer support networks should also be prioritised, with training extended to entire councils rather than selected individuals, ensuring a more inclusive approach.
Financial support for women candidates and international networking are also crucial for ensuring that women can compete on equal footing in elections. Transforming Sri Lanka’s political culture requires interventions that foster gender-sensitive policies and a national commission for women, as recommended in the Chulani Kodikara (2019) report. Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s political landscape must evolve to support women not just as candidates, but as leaders capable of driving change in the nation’s future.
