Prime Minister attends launch of long-term gender equality project at Australia House

From left: UN Women Asia and the Pacific Deputy Regional Director and Officer-In-Charge Maria Holtsberg, Chrysalis CEO Ashika Gunasena, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Paul Stephens, Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche, and UN Women Sri Lanka Head of Office Ramaaya Salgado 

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, yesterday joined an event hosted by the Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens, to officially launch ‘THRIVE – Together for Her: Resilience-building, Inclusivity, and Voices for Equality in Sri Lanka.’ 

THRIVE is a five-year project implemented by UN Women and Chrysalis and funded by the Government of Australia to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Sri Lanka. The project will strengthen the economic and social resilience of women who are marginalised by equipping them with resources to navigate and recover from crises, insecurity, and the impacts of climate change.

Following the official signing of THRIVE in December 2024, the launch event held at the High Commissioner’s Residence, ‘Australia House’ brought together key Government stakeholders and development partners to reaffirm commitment and foster collaboration around the project’s implementation. 

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised: “Gender equality is not just a women’s issue it’s a societal issue. For countries like Sri Lanka, more and more collaborative initiatives like THRIVE are essential to ensuring gender parity and eliminating gender-based violence”. 

Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Paul Stephens, said: “Sri Lanka has a proud history of strong, resilient women. Yet we know that many women-headed households, women with disabilities and those from marginalised communities continue to face deep challenges. Economic-insecurity, entrenched social norms and the impacts of climate change create significant barriers to full participation in their communities and the workforce. By investing in women, challenging harmful norms, and fostering inclusive communities, we will help to shape a future where all Sri Lankans – women and men alike – can THRIVE”.

“THRIVE represents a powerful opportunity for us to unite and fulfil the promises set forth in the Beijing Declaration, turning our shared vision into meaningful action”, added UN Women Asia and the Pacific Deputy Regional Director and Officer-In-Charge Maria Holtsberg. “Together, we are building a world of true equality – where every voice is valued, every right is upheld, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive. We deeply appreciate the support of the Government of Australia and their long-term investment to advancing gender equality”.  THRIVE works with communities in six districts – Badulla, Colombo, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Monaragala, and Nuwara Eliya – where multi-dimensional poverty persists. 

“Women’s empowerment is not only a matter of rights. It is essential to Sri Lanka’s recovery and long-term development. When women and girls are able to participate fully and equally in all aspects of society, economies grow stronger, communities become more resilient, and progress accelerates for everyone. The THRIVE initiative is a timely and vital step in supporting this transformation”, said UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche. 

In her closing remarks, Chrysalis CEO Ashika Gunasena highlighted that “THRIVE will prioritise women from diverse backgrounds including women-headed households, women with disabilities, those in the rural, plantation and urban sectors. Investing in their leadership and challenging deep-rooted biases will ensure Sri Lanka’s growth is inclusive and sustained”.