“No woman is safe until every woman is safe”: PM Harini calls for urgent action on women’s rights

As the world marks International Women’s Day, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has called for urgent and transformative action to address the deep-rooted inequalities that continue to shape the lives of women, particularly those from marginalized communities.

In her speech, the Prime Minister emphasized that while progress has been made, structural barriers and misogynistic ideologies still hinder women’s rights and safety. 

“No woman is safe until every single woman is safe,” she declared, urging collective action to ensure no one is left behind.

Dr. Amarasuriya highlighted the disproportionate challenges faced by women in rural areas, war-affected regions, plantations, and the informal labor sector, pointing out that gender-based violence, economic hardship, and political exclusion continue to impact them the most. 

She underscored the importance of women’s representation in leadership, stating that despite a significant increase in the number of women in parliament during the last election, it remains insufficient.

 “Our democracy is incomplete when a significant portion of our citizens is excluded from leadership and decision-making,” she stated.

At a time when Sri Lanka is navigating economic recovery, climate change, digital transformation, and democratic challenges, the Prime Minister stressed that the country cannot afford to sideline half of its population.

 “Women’s voices, leadership, and agency are essential to overcoming these challenges and building a resilient future for all,” she said.

Acknowledging the contributions of feminist movements, Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirmed her government’s commitment to advancing policies that prioritize the rights and agency of women and girls. She urged action beyond rhetoric, calling for gender-sensitive policies, budgets, and tangible change in women’s lived experiences.

“When women thrive, communities thrive. When women lead, nations transform,” the Prime Minister said, concluding her statement with a powerful call for unity and lasting change.

Full Speech by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on International Women’s Day 2025

“Today, as we mark International Women’s Day, we stand at a crucial moment in history. This is a time to come together—not just to celebrate the progress we have made, but to confront the deep structural inequalities as well as misogynistic ideologies that continue to shape the lives of women, in all their diversity—not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world.

Gender-based violence, economic hardship, and political exclusion disproportionately affect women—particularly those from rural communities, war-affected regions, plantations, and the informal labor sector. 

No woman is safe until every single woman is safe. We must commit to protecting one another, ensuring that no one is left behind, and that the rights and safety of every woman are upheld.

Women make up 52% of our population, and we received universal franchise in 1931. At the last election, we were able to significantly increase the number of women in parliament. While we celebrate that, we need to acknowledge that it is still too low. Our democracy is incomplete when a significant portion of our citizens is excluded from leadership and decision-making.

At a time when Sri Lanka is navigating economic recovery, climate change, digital transformation, and democratic challenges, we cannot afford to sideline half of our population. Women’s voices, leadership, and agency are essential to overcoming these challenges and building a resilient future for all.

Feminist movements have long shown us that change is possible—but only when we challenge the status quo and demand systemic transformation. As the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to advancing policies that center the rights and agency of women and girls.

This IWD, let us commit to transformative action—not just in words, but through gender-sensitive policies, budgets, and the lived experiences of all women and marginalized communities.

When women thrive, communities thrive. When women lead, nations transform. This International Women’s Day, let’s unite and move beyond words. Let’s commit to real, lasting change—for the generations before us, for those fighting today, and for those who will come after.”