South Asia | Sri Lanka | Security

Sri Lanka female cop is policewoman of the year

A Sri Lankan female officer has been named the world’s best policewoman of 2015 by the International Association of Women Police (IWAP). Its mission is to strengthen, unite, and raise the profile of women in criminal justice across the world. Assistant Superintendent Wimathi Periyapperuma of Sri Lanka and an Indian police woman will share the International Recognition and Scholarship Award. The process of selections is very competitive as IAWP considers thousands of applications from member states. The award is based on the efficiency and dedication displayed by policewomen.

South Asia | Sri Lanka | Education

Female Literacy: What the Indian economy needs to learn from Sri Lanka

Source: DNAIndia

A study conducted by the Registrar General of India and the East-West Population Institute noted that: “The states in which female literacy rates are high, fertility rates typically are low. In those states that have low fertility rates, child mortality rates are also low.” Not only are overall female literacy rates for India way behind Sri Lanka (we are at 66% vs their 90%) but the situation is especially bad in the northern and western Indian states (literacy rates well below 60%). Interestingly, southern Indian states like Kerala (92%) and Tamil Nadu (74%) have female literacy rates and

South Asia | Sri Lanka | Environment

Women to power Sri Lanka’s mangrove conservation plan

Source: Reuters

Sri Lanka's new mangrove protection scheme, the world's first country-wide initiative, is relying on women like Michel Priyadarshani, head of a fisherwomen's group in eastern Ambantotam village. Priyadarshani and her colleagues did not understand the importance of mangroves for the ecosystem, including the fish population, until they benefited from a program offering microcredit in return for looking after the coastal forests. Since 1997, Sudeesa, a national organization that works to protect coastal ecosystems, has given women living near mangrove forests financial assistance - mainly l

South Asia | Sri Lanka | Corruption

Sri Lanka women cricketers ‘forced into sexual favours’

Source: BBC

Members of Sri Lanka's women's cricket team were forced to perform sexual favours to keep their places in the team, the sports ministry has said. The ministry said evidence of sexual harassment was uncovered in an investigation begun last year. It was launched following reports a player had been dropped for refusing to have sex with cricketing officials. Disciplinary procedures would now be initiated, the ministry said, without naming the individuals involved. "It is a shameful incident," Sri Lankan Children's Minister Rosy Senanayake told the AFP news agency. It is not clear what