Unveiling the Past: A Timeless Journey Through History

With the emergence of Free Trade Zones in Sri Lanka following the advent of open economy, many female workers suffered due to the oppressive policies of the government existed at the time. The working class was subjected to extreme exploitation. In this historic background, the Women’s Center was established  in August 1982 to protect women’s, rights.  Read more..

Shramika Sinhala News Paper

Shramika English News Paper

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Today, 25th November marks Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women Day. Today we at Womens Centre conducted a street show that hightlightd courage and creativity — street dramas, live art, puppet shows, postcards, leaflets, and a powerful protest — to demand dignity, safety, and justice for every woman.
Women workers, activists, youth, joined together to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to urgently ratify ILO Convention C190 — the only international standard that protects workers from violence and harassment in all spaces of work, from factories and transport to public spaces and online platforms.
Violence is not a private issue. It is a national crisis.
Ratify C190 now! ✊
Today, the Women’s Centre proudly joined the GBV Awareness Walk as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, standing in solidarity to advocate for safe public spaces and an end to violence against women and girls.
Together with the National Forum Against GBV, UN Sri Lanka, and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, we took this important step to raise awareness and amplify the voices of survivors.
MAY DAY MARCH & MEDIA DISCUSSION
Garment workers, estate workers, farmers, and working women are rising together!
As we face increasing challenges from import-export tariff policies and corporate exploitation, we say: Secure our jobs! Protect our lives!
This Pre-International Workers’ Day media discussion was organized by the Women’s Centre and other powerful working women’s organizations today.
Let’s raise our voices for dignity, rights, and justice in the workplace.
Our labor sustains the economy — our struggles will shape the future.
 

International May Day 2025

 

The Women’s Centre Sri Lanka proudly hosted an inspiring international event in partnership with the World March of Women from April 24–26, 2025. Women workers from across the globe gathered for powerful protests and an international conference to stand against corporate exploitation, militarization, and labor injustices. Together, we raised our voices for feminist solidarity, corporate accountability, and a world where people’s lives and dignity come before profits. Globalize resistance, globalize feminist solidarity!

Live on News 1st, TV 01! Gayani Gomes represented the voices of women workers in Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Zones and garment factories. She shared insights from the Women’s Centre, highlighting the challenges women face in the garment sector, their role in elections, and proposals for advancing gender equality. During the discussion, she emphasized the need for the Election Commission to uphold the rights and gender equality of all workers in the upcoming election.

“Good Food For A Good Life” – Celebrating World Food Day with FIAN Sri Lanka! The Women’s Centre proudly participated, representing the food rights of Free Trade Zone and garment factory workers. #WorldFoodDay #FoodRights #womenscentresrilanka

Press conference held on 23rd October 2024. Final Election Monitoring Reports 9th Presidential Election precented by MDL, MFFE, FIAN Sri Lanka.

Celebrating World Children’s Day with children at ‘Sramika’ Day Care Centre.

Yesterday, the Women’s Centre Choir delivered a powerful and moving performance at Crescat Boulevard, as part of the museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Public Programmes for ‘Total Landscaping.’ Made up of members/women workers from the Free Trade Zone and dedicated human rights activists from the Women’s Centre, the choir united their voices to raise awareness on the rights and struggles faced by women in the garment industry and beyond. Our songs, featured in Jesper Nordahl’s 2006 project ‘Katunayake Free Trade Zone, music by & written by the Women’s Centre,’ continue to inspire action for social justice and women’s empowerment. #WomensCentreSriLanka #EmpowermentThroughMusic #HumanRights

Building a feminist world! Women’s Centre participated in the Asia Pacific Feminist Forum, organized by APWLD, to continue advocating for women’s rights and justice.

"Beach cleaning conducted by the Women's Centre with Southern Shramika Forum targeting World Ocean Day. Our responsibility to the Earth starts here!"
Women's Centre marks World Environment Day with a boarding house cleaning drive and awareness-raising on climate change's impact on women workers. Emphasizing our responsibility to Mother Earth and promoting a just transition for a sustainable future!

International Women’s Day 2024

Our Previous Events

Empowering women, amplifying their voice, and honoring human rights – a momentous celebration at the Human Rights Day event in Kilinochchi, North Province Sri Lanka. Together, we stand united for a brighter, more equitable future.
Stake Holder Discussion Based on the Restudy “the Hidden deficits of working class women in Galle District” A publication of Women’s Centre -Sri Lanka Research partner - Southern Shramika Forum - A network initiative of the Women’s Centre under WVL project in collaboration with 14 organizations) Women's Centre Sri Lanka Asiafoundation Asiafoundation Women’s Voice and Leadership- Sri Lanka

NEWS

At present Women’s Centre is engaged in activities such as legal support for labour issues faced by FTZ workers, defend and promote human rights, women rights and labour rights, workshops and trainings on women leadership, reproductive health, 1325 resolution, celebrate women’s day, May Day and elimination of violence against women’s day, counseling for women, ethnic integration programs and print and distribute “Shramika” news paper. And also it maintains library for Women’s Centre members & Day Care Center for FTZ women workers’ children.

 

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Individual commitment to a group effort is what drives a team, a company, a society and a civilization!

සංවිධානය වෙමු ! බලමුළු ගැන්වෙමු 🤝 කම්කරු ස්ත්‍රීන්ගේ අයිතීන් සඳහා වූ ක්‍රියාමාර්ග කඩිනම් කරනු ! ☝️ ස්ත්‍රී පුරුෂ සමාජභාවීය සමානාත්මතාවය සංවර්ධනයේ ප්‍රබල සාධකයක් කරනු ! 💪 ஒருங்கிணைவோம் ! அணிதிரள்வோம் ! பெண் தொழிலாளர்களின் உரிமைகளுக்கான நடவடிக்கைகளை துரிதப்படுத்து ! பால்நிலைச் சமத்துவத்தை அபிவிருத்தியின் வலுவான காரணியாக்கு ! Let us organize and empower ! Accelerate action to uphold the rights of women workers. Transform gender equality into a powerful drive of development.


Standing Against Gender-Based Violence: Urgent Reforms Needed Now!