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Business Daily

What’s holding women back from work in Sri Lanka?

Business Daily

BBC

Business

4.4816 Ratings

🗓️ 5 December 2023

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After the catastrophic financial crisis, early signs of stability are returning to Sri Lanka. But there’s arguably a more entrenched economic dilemma in the country that had the world’s first female prime minister - the lack of women in work.

With first-hand testimony of harassment and social exclusion, this programme examines the barriers holding women back.

Presenter Laura Heighton-Ginns also visits a women-only employer, successful restaurant chain Hela Bojun, and speaks to presidential advisor Priyanee Wijesekera about the path to cultural change.

Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns

(Image: A woman working in a government back scheme. Credit: Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Something mysterious plagues County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland, and its legendary Gaelic football team.

0:06.1

Sometimes I think there's something sinister going on.

0:09.4

I believe in the curse. I think it's real.

0:11.6

Listen to the curious tale of The Mayo Curse on Amazing Sports Stories from the BBC World Service.

0:17.9

Search for amazing sports stories wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

0:24.2

Calm is returning to Sri Lanka. After a catastrophic financial crisis, plans are in place to reduce

0:31.4

costs and repay creditors. But there's arguably a deeper, longer-term dilemma for the leaders of the tropical teardrop-shaped island,

0:40.5

the persistently low proportion of women in the workforce.

0:44.9

And this program will look at the barriers holding women back,

0:48.6

and hear from those who've succeeded against the odds.

0:51.9

I didn't go out, I was just staying on my bed all day.

0:55.8

There were many verbal harassment that I went through.

0:59.1

If I move back, they will make me to get married to a person

1:02.6

and I have to lead a typical girl life.

1:06.1

I'm Laura Heighton Jins. You're listening to Business Daily from the BBC.

1:23.4

On a sandy road parallel to Sri Lanka's southeast coast sits a glass-walled converted shipping container. Outside it, a chalkboard sign proclaims, the aunties are back. The aunties are skilled

1:31.8

crafts women who sell their wares here at Hopa Market. Hi, nice to meet you. What's your name?

1:40.1

My name is Aira. Will you tell me about some of the products that you sell here?

1:45.0

Some are from Kalambu ladies, some are from our villages like around here.

1:49.9

And there are a lot of different things in here, aren't there?

1:53.4

So we have bowls made from coconuts.

1:58.2

Dresses.

...

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