COLOMBO: With the support of the Japanese government and UN Women, Sri Lanka adopted its first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) for the years 2023–2027 after being hit by a number of crises during the year, including conflict, the Covid-19 pandemic, and economic catastrophe.

According to UN Women, the action plan "adds to the country's legal and policy frameworks to protect and empower women in line with the international commitments set out in the UN Security Council's Resolution 1325 (2000)," and is essential to Sri Lanka's sustained peace and development. It also aims to strengthen coordination between stakeholders of the women, peace, and security agenda.

The National Action Plan also aims to offer targeted assistance to women who have been and still are adversely affected by war, violence, and environmental instability.  UN Women stated further, "It strives to promote the security of marginalised women and girls, as well as the economic empowerment of women via access to equitable opportunities and resources.

On March 8, International Women's Day, the plan that was agreed by the Cabinet of Ministers on February 27 was formally launched.

The recently adopted National Action Plan was created through a consultative process with input from provincial and district-level public sector officials, civil society, community-based organisations, women leaders, and others with direct and varied experience of conflict and crises, according to the UN Women.

It was created in conjunction with the governments of Japan and Sri Lanka with technical assistance from UN Women. Under the G7 WPS framework, the Japanese government inked a partnership agreement with Sri Lanka in 2018.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe noted in a speech on this occasion that while the "position of women in the Asian region is not adequate, Sri Lankan women are ahead of other countries in the region, and efforts will be made to further enhance their rights".

Achieving this aim would be aided, according to President Wickremesinghe, by the "National Policy on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment" and the "National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security," and the progress accomplished thus far was highlighted on International Women's Day.

"Leading female SAARC activists will gather in Sri Lanka this year to push for the inclusion of women's rights in the organization's structure. Sri Lanka is dedicated to advancing women's empowerment and gender equality in all spheres, and it will take the lead in promoting women's rights in the Asian region." "The timely implementation of this National Action Plan, which will support Sri Lanka's efforts to realising the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is welcomed by the government of Japan. Japan is dedicated to advancing Sri Lanka's women, peace, and security agenda through our long-standing relationship with UN Women and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs "Speaking about Sri Lanka's development, Mizukoshi Hideaki, the Japanese ambassador said.

Head of UN Women's office in Sri Lanka, Prashani Dias, stated: "With assistance from the government of Japan, UN Women has given public sector employees training on women, peace, and security to aid in the implementation of this significant policy framework. In order to address issues that have an impact on the wellbeing of women and girls during times of crisis, workplans have been jointly prepared at the district level through these programmes."

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