A few words about
Our History
Our story starts way back,
As a result of the emergence of Free Trade Zones with the advent of the open economic system in Sri Lanka, many women were suffered due to the oppressive policies of the government existing at that time. Especially the working class was subjected to extreme exploitation. In this historic background, the Women’s Centre was established at Tudella in Ja-Ela in August 1982 to protect women, rights of women and rights of women workers.
From that point on, the Women’s Centre continuously appeared for the right to live free of violence in the face of problems which crop up due to being women and the right of women for protection from labor exploitation. Having been organized by women workers themselves, the Women’s Centre has overcome all challenges and obstacles in taking the initiative to strengthen the struggle of Polytex Garment workers and carry it to its victory in the history of Sri Lanka.
Thereafter, the move taken to protect and support the Tamil workers from Ekala area in Ja-Ela who became helpless during the racist clashes that festered the whole country in 1983, can be identified as a victory achieved by the Women’s Centre. Without stopping at that, the Women’s Centre spread its wings from Ekala by opening its branch “Women Workers’ Shelter” in Jayawardhanapura in Katunayake in January 1987 in order to give strength and courage to women workers from the Katunayake Free Trade Zone, who were battered by the open economic system.
