Friday Jan 23, 2026
Friday Jan 23, 2026
Friday, 23 January 2026 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Prime Minister
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has said the contributions of women continue to be systematically undervalued, particularly in unpaid care work, informal labour, and the agriculture sector, even as women increasingly assert their agency in political, economic, and social spheres around the world.
She made these remarks on Wednesday (21) while addressing the World Woman Davos Agenda 2026 at the World Woman House, held on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The high-level forum was organised under the theme ‘Women Leading the Changing Global Order.’
“The exclusion of women from decision-making is not incidental; it is structurally maintained through gendered power hierarchies. Addressing these barriers is about transforming institutions and power structures to create enabling environments in which women can lead with confidence,” the Prime Minister said.
From a political standpoint, Dr. Amarasuriya noted that women are often excluded from decision-making through entrenched gendered power hierarchies. She said that attacks on women in leadership, particularly in politics, through harassment, character assassination, and systemic marginalisation, frequently force capable women to withdraw or avoid participation, reinforcing patriarchal structures.
She stressed that overcoming these barriers is not about protection, but about transforming institutions and power structures to create environments where women can exercise leadership with autonomy, authority, and confidence.
Referring to Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister said the country demonstrates what is possible when political commitment aligns with the resilience of its people. She noted that under the current inclusive Government, historic strides have been made in political representation, with 20 women elected to Parliament for the first time, reflecting a shift towards more inclusive governance.
