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Survivors of gender-based violence in Sri Lanka at risk as crucial protection services shutter
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – “When there is domestic violence, women need to stay in a safe house. But when one woman called me and asked for transport, I had to tell her we didn’t have enough funds to bring her to the shelter.”
Francine Princey works at the Jaffna Social Action Centre – a UNFPA-supported refuge for survivors of gender-based violence. She has seen a spike in calls for help since Sri Lanka spiralled into the worst socioeconomic crisis the country has ever witnessed.
“Without money, every family has a problem,” Ms. Princey said. “Labourers are unable to get a job and then families face difficulties, including more violence.”
Fuel shortages are also making transport ruinously expensive, which limits the options for survivors seeking to escape their abusers and further endangers their lives. In Sri Lanka, one in four women have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, a figure expected to rise as incomes dwindle and tensions at home mount.
Now with government funds stretched to their limits and chronic shortages of even the most critical supplies, the national health-care system is buckling under the pressure. Sexual and reproductive health services have been severely disrupted, even for essential support such as emergency maternal health care, access to contraception and safe houses for women.
Since mid-June, UNFPA has been supporting seven shelters for survivors of gender-based violence across Sri Lanka. Yet despite having the funds to at least keep the doors open, due to soaring inflation most staff can’t afford to travel or keep working for a fraction of their pre-crisis salaries.
Francine lives nearby so she can walk to work, but admits that the challenges are multiplying as money dries up and the centre can no longer offer basics such as transport: Limited fuel and sky-high transport costs mean women are only driven to the shelter by government vehicles if they have a court order to protect them.
She worries that even if they do get to the shelter, without the full range of support needed they may not be able to fully recover.After months of shortfalls, the Jaffna shelter has been forced to stop offering psychosocial counselling and life-skills training, which before helped survivors to regain their self-confidence and get back on their feet financially. Rangi* is 21 years old and has been living at the shelter for over a year. She said she is heartbroken to no longer be able to teach other survivors skills that could help them earn an income and provide for themselves.
“We used to make doormats,” she explained. “We had the machines and equipment, but we no longer have the ropes or dye. If we had resources, we could teach other girls who will come here in the future.”
“All the girls here have been through many problems and are in a lot of pain,” she said. “When I’m sewing, I feel calm and relaxed. I don’t dwell on my problems, because I can focus on the task.
Years of experience working with survivors of gender-based violence have shown Francine what is possible when women get the right support. “When women came here before the crisis, we taught them skills and helped them learn how to navigate challenging life circumstances.”
To avoid more life-saving initiatives like the Jaffna shelter having to shut their doors, UNFPA has launched an appeal for $10.7 million to ensure sexual and reproductive health care and gender-based violence protection services for more than 2 million women and girls in Sri Lanka in 2022.The response aims to coordinate the prevention, protection and referral systems in place to tackle sexual and intimate partner violence and provide some 300,000 women and girls with information on the services and support available.
The funding will also cover distributions of essential medical equipment and supplies, including for emergency and obstetric care and the clinical management of rape, to meet the reproductive health needs of some 1.2 million people. A total of 10 shelters will be supported, expanding services for survivors of gender-based violence and providing 12,500 women with livelihood programmes. (UNFPA)
*Name changed for privacy and protection
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
