International Women's Day 2025

Empowering Female Graduate Students in Sri Lanka
FGS Women’s Day – 2025

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), University of Colombo celebrated the Women’s Day 2025 on 7th March, 2025 at the FGS. Aligning with the global theme for International Women’s Day 2025 which is Accelerate Action, this year, a Round Table Discussion was held under the theme of “Empowering Female Graduate Students in Sri Lanka.” The Chief Guest of the event was the Senior Professor (Chair) H.D. Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo. The Round Table Discussion started after the Welcome Remarks provided by Professor A.A. Azeez, Dean, FGS and a presentation titled “Realities of the Female Graduate Students” by Ms. Gayathri Karannagoda and Ms. Yasmin Raji representing the students of the Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Women’s Studies (PGDGWS). The Round Table Discussants were Professor Prabha Manuratne, Director, Centre for Gender Eqiality/Equity, University Grants Commission, Professor Hemamalie Gunathilake, member, University Grants Commission and Mrs. Indrani Sugatadasa Weerathunga, Retired Ministry Secretary of Women Affairs and Former Council Member. The Round Table was moderated by Dr Pavithra Jayawardena, Coordinator of the PGDGWS and the Head of the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo. Professor Manuratne called the postgraduate females in Sri Lanka as “an invisible community” in the university sector about whom the universities or ministries pay very less attention to. She highlighted the institutional challenges they face and the need for change. Professor Gunathilake also highlighted the challenges women face at the family, organizational and societal levels in completing their postgraduate education. She explained the triple burden an ordinary postgraduate female student may have to bear – work, family and education, which brings a different challenge for females than males. Mrs. Sugatadasa identified the key policy milestones internationally and nationally in terms of gender equality and stressed the need of accelerating action for change. Participants included academic coordinators of the FGS, academic and non-academic administrators, staff and the students actively involved in the Round Table Discussion. The event was planned and coordinated by Dr Pavithra Jayawardena. Out of the discussion, a report will be prepared and be submitted to the FGS, the University and the UGC listing the types of challenges postgraduate female students face and suggested short term and long term actions.