Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya Highlights Structural Barriers to Women’s Leadership at World Woman Davos Agenda 2026

Davos, The Gulf Observer: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday underscored the persistent undervaluation of women’s contributions, particularly in unpaid care work, informal labour and the agriculture sector, while noting the growing assertion of women’s agency in political, economic and social spheres worldwide.

She made these remarks while addressing the World Woman Davos Agenda 2026 at the World Woman House, held on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The high-level forum was organised under the theme, “Women Leading the Changing Global Order.”

“The exclusion of women from decision-making is not incidental; it is structurally maintained through gendered power hierarchies. Addressing these barriers is about transforming institutions and power structures to create enabling environments in which women can lead with confidence,” the Prime Minister said.

From a political perspective, Prime Minister Amarasuriya noted that women continue to face systemic exclusion from leadership roles due to entrenched power dynamics. She highlighted that harassment, character assassination and marginalisation of women in public life, particularly in politics, often compel capable leaders to withdraw or refrain from participation, thereby reinforcing patriarchal structures.

She emphasised that overcoming these challenges is not a matter of protection alone, but of institutional transformation that empowers women to exercise leadership with autonomy, authority and confidence.

Referring to Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister said the country demonstrates the potential for progress when political commitment aligns with public resilience. She noted that under the current inclusive government, a historic milestone has been achieved with the election of 20 women to Parliament for the first time, marking a significant step toward more representative and inclusive governance.