By Tirani Wijewickrema

This report examines how gender-based violence (GBV) shapes women's leadership across politics, public service, the corporate sector, education, sports, and the informal private sector in Sri Lanka. Drawing on in-depth interviews conducted across ten districts, it explores the experiences of women leaders navigating institutions and spaces where power continues to be shaped by deeply gendered norms, practices, and inequalities.

Moving beyond individual incidents of violence, the findings demonstrate that GBV operates as a structural barrier throughout women's leadership journeys. Participants describe experiences ranging from sexual harassment, intimidation, and digital abuse to institutional discrimination, political gatekeeping, and social policing. These forms of violence not only affect women's entry into leadership but also their ability to exercise authority, remain in leadership positions, and influence decision-making. At the same time, the report documents the resilience, strategies, and collective networks women draw upon to resist and navigate these challenges.

Building on Feminist Institutionalism and an intersectional perspective, this report highlights the urgent need to address the institutional cultures, policies, and power structures that continue to reproduce gender inequality. It argues that creating safer and more inclusive pathways to leadership requires moving beyond representation alone, towards systemic reforms that enable women to participate, lead, and shape public life on equal terms.