Financial Times

Promoting women representation in the legislature
The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM) and the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) recently hosted Rosy Senanayake, a former Mrs World, to a luncheon where she spoke on ‘women’s representation in government and leading business positions.’

She said that although Sri Lanka has the highest literacy rate in South Asia, women’s representation in parliament is a mere 4% as compared to Pakistan’s 23%, Bangladesh’s 14% and India’s 9%. “Where did we go wrong?” the former High Commissioner to Malaysia and UN goodwill ambassador asked at a forum of top business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Senanayake spoke on a range of issues including Sri Lanka’s efforts in offering security and protection to the vast female labour force that contribute to over 70% of Sri Lanka’s revenue – the migrant, factory and estate sector worker.
She urged the audience of many successful women entrepreneurs and professionals to raise their voices in unison to ensure equity for the 54% of the Sri Lankan population that is female.

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