National Commission on Women briefs Prime Minister on operational progress

Colombo, July 5 (Daily Mirror) - The Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Women, Ambassador Grace Asirwatham, together with the Commissioners, met with the Prime Minister to brief her on the progress made in operationalising the Commission.

During the meeting, the delegation provided an update on the implementation of the Women Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024, under which the National Commission on Women was established as Sri Lanka's first independent statutory body mandated to promote, protect and advance women's rights while driving the national agenda for women's empowerment.

Chairperson Ambassador Grace Asirwatham, Commissioners Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, Janaha Selvaras, Dr. Padma Gunaratne and M.U. Gayani, along with Executive Director K.D.R. Olga, outlined the Commission's ongoing institutional development and preparatory work to establish mechanisms across its key functions. These include advocacy, advisory, monitoring, investigative and coordination roles carried out within its statutory mandate.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the progress made and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to supporting the Commission's full operationalisation as an independent national institution dedicated to advancing women's rights, gender equality and women's empowerment in Sri Lanka.