Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to promoting the rights and well-being of women and girls, emphasizing the need to translate principles into practical action to achieve equality and dignity.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the Opening Ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025, held on October 13 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing, upon the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
On her arrival, Prime Minister Amarasuriya was warmly welcomed by President Xi Jinping and First Lady Madam Peng Liyuan. Following President Xi’s opening address, several Heads of State and Government, including Dr. Amarasuriya, delivered remarks at the high-level event.
In her address, the Prime Minister noted that nearly three decades after the landmark 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing and the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action, the framework remains central to achieving gender equality.
“We have made real progress: female literacy has risen, maternal mortality has nearly halved, and global life expectancy has increased from 69 years in 1995 to 76 years in 2023. Yet serious gaps remain — women’s labour-force participation stands at just 48.7% compared with 73% for men, and women account for only about 35% of graduates in science and technology. Movement toward political parity is far too slow,” she said.
Dr. Amarasuriya underscored that the all-round development of women must encompass education, health, the economy, politics, society, and culture, and called for sustained global commitment toward these goals.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s national priorities, she reaffirmed the government’s dedication to increasing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making, ensuring meaningful representation at all levels, and implementing the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment as well as the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2023–2027), in alignment with CEDAW and UNSCR 1325.
She also emphasized Sri Lanka’s resolve to ensure that women from diverse social and economic backgrounds, including those from working-class and marginalized communities, are represented across all sectors.
Following the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Amarasuriya attended the official banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping and First Lady Madam Peng Liyuan at the CNCC.
