The open economy of Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on women’s work for earning
foreign exchange and economic growth. Hundreds and thousands of women are employed in
such foreign exchange earning economic sectors as export manufacturing and agriculture, and
migration, but often in poor working conditions and with low pay. Despite overall progress
made in improving the status of women, promoting women’s rights, and accordingly advancing
in the overall gender equality, substantial gender gaps persist both in terms of quantity and
quality of employment in Sri Lanka. Gender combined with ethnicity and caste still influence
the quality and quantity of employment that women and men are engaged in the country.
This paper analyzes the recent economic and employment trends with a specific gender
perspective in the context of open economy of Sri Lanka, particularly on linkages between the
openness of the economy and women’s work and key issues of women workers in vulnerable
categories of employment. A gender review of legislation, policies and development plans is
undertaken. The paper also provides a snap shot on gender dimensions of the technical
cooperation projects supported by the ILO.