Sri Lanka

Handicraft market trader Tui Johnson has barely had time to think about politics ahead of Vanuatu’s national election as she struggles to survive after last month’s earthquake. 

Fourteen people were killed, more than 200 seriously injured and 80,000 people displaced or adversely affected when the 7.3 magnitude quake struck just off the capital Port Vila on Dec. 17.

A notable number of women are contesting Sri Lanka’s general elections on Thursday, signalling a potential shift in the nation’s male-dominated political landscape, but analysts warn simply having more female candidates is not enough to transform the country’s leadership cu

Harini Amarasuriya was officially sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister on Tuesday, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold the office since Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 2000.

The ceremony took place in the capital, Colombo, where the 54-year-old leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) took her oath of office administered by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dissanayake also appointed a new cabinet of four members, including himself.

COLOMBO, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Not one of the 38 contenders in Sri Lanka's presidential election this month is a woman, a stark contrast in the Indian Ocean island where women make up more than half the voters and the workforce.

Despite making up over half the voters and workforce, women are starkly underrepresented in Sri Lanka's political landscape. The 2023 presidential election features no female candidates, highlighting the deep-seated patriarchal structure that impedes women's political participation. Efforts like quota systems and training programs show progress but are not sufficient for lasting change.

It is an enduring stain on Sri Lanka’s democracy and gender equality that only 4.8 percent of parliamentarians are women despite their high literacy rate and educational levels. To correct this imbalance, proactive action is needed by women and men.

Sri Lanka is gearing up for its ninth presidential election on September 21, but notably no women candidates are running for the highest office in the country. While having a woman candidate does not necessarily guarantee the prioritization of women’s issues, it is important to consider how the leading contestants plan to address these concerns. With women making up 51.6 percent of the population and 56 percent of registered voters, their votes hold the power to significantly influence the outcome of this election.