Events Entrepreneurship

H.E.R Foundation supported by Fems Formalises Menstrual Health Partnership with Dialog Business Services

The H.E.R Foundation, supported by Fems, recently took a landmark step forward in its mission to advance menstrual health across the country. Through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dialog Business Services, the Foundation formalised a partnership that will bring both menstrual health education and on-site access to sanitary napkins to thousands of female employees and customers across Dialog Business Services premises island wide.

The partnership took shape through two key pillars. The first was a series of menstrual health and hygiene awareness sessions conducted for female employees across Dialog Business Services locations, designed to break stigma, address misinformation, and empower women with accurate, practical knowledge about their menstrual health. These sessions built on the efforts of a programme previously set in motion.

To address the second pillar, following the signing of the MOU, a total of 29 sanitary napkin dispenser units were installed across Dialog Business Services offices and retail outlets, spanning a wide geographic reach. The installations covered key corporate office locations in Colombo as well as 23 Dialog retail outlets, including in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala, Negombo, Nugegoda, Ratnapura, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Wennappuwa, and several more. This country-wide rollout ensures that women, whether they are Dialog employees or customers visiting these spaces, can access essential menstrual products conveniently and with dignity.

Sachini Gamage, General Manager Marketing – Hemas Consumer Brands, symbolically hands over a sanitary napkin dispenser unit to Piyuma Manchanayake, Senior Manager – Talent Engagement and Development, Dialog Business Services (Pvt) Ltd, marking the rollout of dispenser units across Dialog Business Services premises islandwide under the H.E.R Foundation’s menstrual health partnership supported by Fems.

The need for such initiatives remains deeply relevant within the Sri Lankan context as only 30% of women in the menstruating age group use sanitary napkins regularly. Access to menstrual products and accurate health knowledge remains limited for a significant proportion of women. Period stigma also continues to be a barrier, and its consequences are felt in workplaces and communities alike, often resulting in unnecessary discomfort, reduced productivity, and in many cases, absenteeism.

Named after its three founding principles of Help, Empower, and Rise, the H.E.R Foundation was established by Fems to channel its social impact efforts into meaningful, measurable programmes. The partnership with Dialog Business Services represents the Foundation's continued effort to extend this work into the corporate sector, recognising that workplaces are among the most powerful platforms for creating sustained behavioural and cultural change.

Speaking on the occasion, Sachini Gamage – General Manager Marketing- Hemas Consumer Brands, shared her thoughts on the significance of the milestone.

"At the H.E.R Foundation, we have always believed that no woman should have to navigate her menstrual health without support, whether she is at home, in her community, or at work. This partnership with Dialog Business Services is a reflection of what becomes possible when organisations come together with a shared sense of purpose. By combining education with access, we are not just addressing a hygiene need. We are contributing to a shift in how menstruation is understood and spoken about in professional environments, and we are proud to be doing this alongside a partner as committed and respected as Dialog Business Services."

Chief of Dialog Business Services, Hemaka Balasuriya added, “We are honoured to partner with the H.E.R Foundation on an initiative that speaks directly to the dignity and wellbeing of the women in our DBS family. This is about creating environments where women feel supported, seen, respected and empowered. Installing dispenser units and bringing in education programmes on menstrual health, which is not spoken out commonly in our society, are practical steps, but the message they send is far greater. We hope that by taking this action, we can inspire more organizations across Sri Lanka to recognize menstrual health as a workplace responsibility and act accordingly.”

By implementing this initiative across dozens of locations nationwide, the two organisations are setting a precedent for how businesses can engage with issues of menstrual health, gender equity, and workplace inclusivity.

About Fems:

Fems, a feminine hygiene brand established in 2004, is driven by a mission to enable women to be independent and rise above societal constraints.

Committed to offering a range of affordable, high-quality sanitary napkins accessible to women from all walks of life, Fems added Aya to its product range, which is specifically designed to meet the needs of budget-conscious consumers without compromising on quality. With deep understanding and empathy, Fems aims to address the evolving feminine hygiene requirements ensuring that women feel comfortable, confident, and supported. Today, Fems has established itself as a reliable brand in feminine care.

At the core of the brand purpose is a dedication to educating households about menstrual health and hygiene, while simultaneously working to dismantle social stigma surrounding menstruation. Fems stands as a beacon of empowerment, a trusted ally that believes in women’s potential, supporting their journey, and celebrating their strength.

For more information, visit https://hemas.com/brands/fems.html.

Caption -

Hemaka Balasuriya, Chief of Dialog Business Services (Pvt) Ltd, and Shiyan Jayaweera, Director of Marketing – Hemas Consumer Brands, exchange the signed MOU formalising the menstrual health partnership between Dialog Business Services and the H.E.R Foundation, supported by Fems. Also pictured are Mifaz Ahamed, Head of Human Resources – Dialog Business Services (Pvt) Ltd, and Sachini Gamage, General Manager Marketing – Hemas Consumer Brands.