UN Women has stressed that the next major challenge for Sri Lanka is to ensure that increased representation of women in politics translates into meaningful participation, political influence and leadership.
The emphasis came with the launch of a new report titled ‘Beyond Numbers’, examining the impact and lessons of Sri Lanka’s 25 per cent quota for women in local government.
Launched at a strategic dialogue organised by UN Women Sri Lanka, the report brought together government representatives, political actors, women leaders, civil society organisations, development partners, academics and United Nations representatives to discuss the future of women's political participation and leadership in the country.
Speaking at the event, UN Women Sri Lanka Head of Office Ramaaya Salgado said that while increasing women's representation in political institutions was important, the next challenge was ensuring that such representation translated into meaningful participation, influence and leadership.
She noted that the experiences of women who entered local government through the quota offered valuable insights into what had worked, the challenges that continued to restrict women's political participation and the reforms needed to create a more inclusive political landscape.
The report highlights the impact of the 25 per cent quota for women in local government, which increased women's representation in local authorities from approximately two per cent to nearly 23 per cent.
Despite this progress, women continue to face significant barriers in politics, including party gatekeeping, limited access to campaign financing and political networks, unequal leadership opportunities, harassment and violence, and persistent social attitudes that question women's ability to lead.
The report also examines whether increased numerical representation has resulted in greater political influence and decision-making power, highlighting the structural changes needed to strengthen women's leadership.
Discussions during the dialogue focused on the implications of the quota experience for future reforms at provincial and national levels, as well as challenges relating to political nominations, campaign financing, leadership progression, safety and accountability.
Participants also stressed the importance of ensuring that political participation initiatives are inclusive of women from minority communities, women with disabilities, young women, rural women, women affected by conflict and those outside established political networks.
UN Women said the findings and recommendations of the report would contribute to future policy engagement, advocacy, programming and partnerships aimed at advancing women's political participation and leadership in Sri Lanka.
