European Union in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

A meaningful step forward for women's political leadership in Sri Lanka.
On 27 April, grassroots women leaders from the Northern region representing the Civil Society Organization Federation (CSOF) and the District Women Councillors Caucus (DWCC) met with Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Mrs. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, to formally submit a policy paper on women's political participation and fair representation. The engagement, facilitated by Chrysalis under the EU-funded BRIDGE Project, opened a fruitful dialogue on three critical areas: political representation, safety and digital protection, and economic justice.
The discussion was a powerful reminder that grassroots voices belong in national policymaking spaces. 💜
The policy paper calls for action on:
✍️ Meaningful political representation beyond quota formalities
✍️ Stronger protection from political and digital gender-based violence
✍️ Economic empowerment for women in elected roles
A small but significant step in a much bigger journey — and we're just getting started.
BRIDGE project is funded by European Union in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

As we mark the conclusion of the Building Responsive Initiatives through Dialogue, Governance and Engagement (BRIDGE) Programme, we reflect on journeys of transformation shaped by persistence, courage, and community leadership. One such journey is that of Ranisla from Mullaitivu, whose years of advocacy on behalf of war-affected families became a powerful movement for land rights, livelihood restoration, and resettlement.

For more than four decades, families connected to Andankulam and Arumugathankulam lived with displacement, landlessness, and limited opportunities for economic independence. Through sustained engagement with Divisional Coordination Committee meetings, Town Hall sessions, formal representations, and the use of Right to Information (RTI) mechanisms, Ranisla continuously carried the voices of her community into institutional spaces where their concerns had long gone unheard.

Her advocacy contributed to the release of 67 hectares of land in Andankulam in 2023, followed by formal surveying processes and the initiation of land distribution procedures. While the process continues, the progress achieved represents more than administrative milestones — it reflects the resilience of communities rebuilding their futures after decades of conflict and displacement.

Stories like Ranisla’s remind us that meaningful change is often built through steady, long-term advocacy, and through equipping community leaders with the tools, confidence, and platforms to engage systems effectively. As the BRIDGE project concludes, we celebrate the individuals and communities who transformed dialogue into action and advocacy into tangible progress and continue to empower women and communities.

The BRIDGE project is funded by European Union in Sri Lanka and the Maldives , and implemented by Chrysalis and Law & Society Trust

އޭސީސީގެ 5 ވަނަ ސްޓްރެޓީޖިކް ޕްލޭން އިފްތިތާހުކޮށްފި އެންޓި-ކޮރަޕްޝަން ކޮމިޝަން (އޭސީސީ) އިން ކުރިއަށް އޮތް ފަސް އަހަރަށް އެކުލަވާލި 5 ވަނަ ސްޓްރެޓީޖިކް ޕްލޭން މިއަދު އާންމުކޮށްފިއެވެ. މި ޕްލޭނަކީ ކޮރަޕްޝަންގެ ހިރ...