Workplace Inclusion Gap: Presence vs. Power in Sri Lankan Corporations 📈

A new UN Women and MAS Holdings study highlights that while Sri Lanka’s female political and board representation is rising, a severe gap remains in transforming this presence into leadership authority within the national workforce. • Overall Labor Dynamics: Women constitute over 50% of Sri Lanka's population but represent only 31.3% of the active labor force. This stagnation persists despite the country's high female literacy and strong human development indicators. • The Seniority Squeeze: Workforce representation drops drastically along the corporate ladder. While women comprise roughly 40% of entry-level positions, they account for only 20% of senior management roles. • Institutional & Board Breakdown: • Listed company board seats held by women surged from 8.4% in 2024 to ~30% in 2025. • Local government female representation rose from 2% to 22%. • Parliamentary seats held by women stand at just 9.8%. • Sector & Structural Barriers: Despite massive female employment in key drivers like the apparel & textiles sector, progression into ultimate decision-making remains restricted. Leadership in high-authority domains like finance, infrastructure, and civil engineering continues to be heavily male-dominated, influenced by deep-seated regional gender norms. _Note: Data based on the Country Gender Equality Profile: Sri Lanka (2026)._