Despite significant efforts towards gender equality, women are underrepresented in political and public decision-making in Sri Lanka, placing Sri Lanka the lowest among South Asian countries on women’s representation in political life. The percentage of women in Parliament since the 1930s has never exceeded 6 per cent. Less than 5.8 per cent of women were elected to Parliament in the recent General Elections in 2015. Women’s were even less represented at the municipality and local government level, comprising only 2 per cent of elected officials between 2008-2012.
By the support of Government of Norway, UN Women implemented the two-year project “Promoting Women’s Political Participation in Sri Lanka” to enhance political will towards creating an enabling environment for women’s representation and participation in politics at national and provincial levels.
