Colombo Municipal Council launches ‘e-diriya’

By Tania de Silva

To commemorate International Women’s Day 2022, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) recently launched ‘e-diriya’, a mobile application that provides information on CMC services and other essential public services available to women.

The application highlights the commitment of the CMC to the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – #BreakTheBias: “Imagine a gender equal world” and reiterates the importance of access to information in transforming the lives of women.

“A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality to create a better world for all us women. We are here today to break the bias within our communities, to keep women safe, to work together as women towards a shared objective of keeping ourselves and our fellow community members engaged in a diverse, equitable and inclusive world,” said Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake.

With information, people can better access government services, participate in public life, and hold their government accountable. Access to information is a fundamental human right and an enabling right that supports individuals to exercise the full spectrum to their social, economic and political rights. The right to information is particularly important for women as it serves to promote gender equality and bridge the gender gap. The launch of the application showcases the CMC’s commitment to promote women’s rights in Sri Lanka, while setting an example to other Local Government Authorities.

e-diriya is a one-stop application, specifically targeting women living in the Colombo city limits, that provides vital information on the services provided to women by the CMC and includes information on livelihoods, maternal care, employment opportunities, pre-schooling and recreational services. The app also connects women with the nearest police station within the Colombo city limits in case of an emergency.

Mayor Senanayake also said: “As a Municipal Council headed by a woman in the city of Colombo. Additional information would ensure their safety as they conduct their daily lives within the city.” The launch of the application will be followed by an extensive media campaign to inform women and the general public on how to use the application.”

The e-diriya initiative is part of the “Inform women, Transform lives”, global campaign initiated by the Carter Centre. The Colombo Municipal Council is part of 13 cities from 5 continents, including: Amman, Jordan; Atlanta, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Chicago, Sri Lanka; Colombo, Bangladesh; Dhaka North, Ireland; Dublin and many more all around the world.

“To ensure we break the cycle of women being vulnerable we believe that informed women can transform their lives. I am indeed privileged that Carter has selected 13 female headed municipal councils of 13 countries to endorse the theme, informing women, transform lives. I am delighted that the Carter centre has selected the city of Colombo and as a Mayor I am proud to lead this campaign, to join women around the world in this unique campaign. The app promotes the services that women in Colombo can avail of. It also promotes unique features that will keep women safe, connecting women to police, to ambulance services and the range of other services and opportunities of the Colombo Municipal Council, that women can avail of to improve their lives,” Senanayake said.

“I ask each and every one of you to join us on this journey of keeping our women informed towards leading better lives and I appeal that each of you will share the information about the app that you will promote the app and share it widely so that this women of the city of Colombo will be safe and better informed,” she added.