British Council brings Women of the World festival to Sri Lanka in December

The British Council, in partnership with the London Southbank Centre, will be bringing the

WOW – Women of the World Festival to Sri Lanka on 2 and 3 December. 

The festival, which is free to enter, will take place at the National Film Corporation Grounds and is open to all members of the public.

Gill Caldicott, Country Director for British Council, Sri Lanka, said that she was, “Absolutely thrilled to host WOW in Colombo and to explore issues and celebrate achievements of women in this country.” She went on to explain what she hoped the festival would generate: “I hope that this will be the beginning of the conversation we have on the important subject of gender, equality and empowerment.”

Founded by Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director Jude Kelly in 2011, the WOW Festival is now a global festival movement having been held in over 38 countries including Ethiopia, Egypt, Iceland and USA. The purpose of the festival is to bring together women and girls from all social backgrounds to empower them and celebrate their achievements as well as provide a space in which they can talk about their experiences of gender inequality and the possible solutions there are towards it. The festival promises to be insightful with English, Sinhala and Tamil sessions running concurrently. Throughout the weekend, audience members will be able to enjoy a diverse range of events such as performances, panel discussions and workshops covering topics such as inspirational women across Sri Lankan history and strategies for combating gender-based violence. Additionally, the festival plans to showcase female musicians performing Sinhala and Tamil contemporary classics and screen original short-films by 13 Sri Lankan women. The WOW Market will also provide female social entrepreneurs from around the island a place to talk about their businesses and sell their goods.

Commenting on the festival’s commitment to diversity Tanya Warnakulasuriya, Arts Manager for the British Council, said that WOW ‘is a festival that breaks social barriers by celebrating the lives and efforts of all women, from high profile celebrities and stateswomen to everyday women. In previous festivals, politicians and movie stars have shared the stage with female tuktuk drivers, and domestic workers.’ She went on to encourage as many people as possible to come to this groundbreaking event citing it as ‘a celebration of the indomitable spirit of Sri Lankan women and girls for their remarkable successes and talents. We may be a tiny island, but when it comes to heart, spirit and courage we are giants and our Sri Lankan women are legendary for their pioneering spirit.’