National Women-Led Movement #HerProgressOurProsperity (#HPOP) Launched to Safeguard and Facilitate the Thriving of Women and Girls Across Sri Lanka

A powerful national movement aimed at safeguarding and facilitating the thriving of women and girls across Sri Lanka was officially launched on March 8, 2026. The movement launched with a 2026 International Women’s Day Roundtable Conference convened under the theme “The Power of Sri Lankan Women to Impact, Inspire, and Influence Youth in Sri Lanka.” Organised by Shyamala School of Art together, celebrating 25 years of service this year, together with Unity Mission Trust, celebrating 18 years of service to the youth of Sri Lanka. The initiative is anchored under the title  “HerProgress.OurProsperity.,” marking the beginning of a long-term, structured, women-led movement dedicated to driving meaningful change across Sri Lankan society at grassroots.

Moving beyond symbolic celebration, the initiative has been designed as a structured and impact-driven platform focused on addressing critical challenges faced by women in their day-to-day lives. It aims to influence public perception, societal behavior, encourage policy dialogue, and mobilise communities to take action in advancing the safety, dignity, and thriving of women and girls across the country.

The official launch brought together a collective of 50 dynamic women leaders representing diverse professional, academic, entrepreneurial, and C-Suite executive backgrounds, together with selected female National Youth Leaders of Unity Mission Trust from different areas of Sri Lanka. Each were united by a shared commitment to building greater awareness of the need to better safeguard and facilitate the thriving of women and girls in Sri Lanka to enable not only Her progress but the Nation’s prosperity. This initiative on the long-term, is specifically designed to take this message to all segments of society across the country in collaboration with schools, communities, institutions and corporates, particularly to underserved and underrepresented areas, serving women and girls of Sri Lanka at grassroots.

During the launch of Phase One of a long-term three-phase project, organisers announced seven priority pillars of focus identified as requiring urgent national attention, setting the direction for focused national dialogue and action.

The seven pillars are:

1. Creating more awareness of the need for protection and provision of physical and psychological safety, and the hygiene needs of women and girls.

2. Educating men and women at all levels to respect, protect, and preserve the dignity of women and girls.

3. Creating awareness of legal recourse available for safeguarding women, and knowledge of how to access such critical support.

4. Strengthening systems to safeguard women and girls from harassment and abuse in domestic, school, university, office, workplace, and public space environments.

5. Women’s Health and Brain Health: Addressing Period Poverty and Hygiene for Holistic Wellness.

6. Safeguarding women and girls from digital exploitation, cybercrime, and technology addiction.

7. Economic freedom through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, self-employment, and mitigating climate and environmental limitations on livelihoods.

Following the launch, participants convened for an inaugural round table conference under the theme “Safeguarding and the Thriving of Women and Girls in Sri Lanka.” Through structured breakout discussions, participants examined the key issues within each focus area and developed practical short-term and long-term recommendations that can be advanced through communities, institutions, and policy platforms.

The Conference was Chaired by Shyamala Pinto-Jayawardena, Moderated by Sasha Pinto-Jayawardena, and the Session Chairpersons were Dr. Ransirini De Silva, Premila Paulraj, Vijula Arulampalam, Dr. Nadee Dissanayake, Dr. Kumarangi Vithanage, Michelle Herft and Lakmali Hapuarachchi. The Official Event Hostess was Kshyahla Pinto-Jayawardena.

The outcome of the conference was a formal signed declaration representing the collective voice of Sri Lankan women as a message to the people of Sri Lanka. The Declaration outlined the key challenges of the seven priority areas and the recommended practical solutions, calling for collective action to create safer domestic, public, school, and corporate environments, strengthen dignity and respect, and unlock greater opportunities for women and girls, ultimately securing a stronger future for Sri Lanka’s youth under the guiding vision of HerProgress.OurProsperity.

A significant aspect of this initiative is the continuing commitment and collaboration of the fifty leaders and participants of this event. They will drive the project movement forward for the welfare and benefit of women and girls to facilitate long-term benefits and the development of Sri Lanka as a Nation.