Grace Asirwatham appointed Chairperson of National Commission on Women
Retired Ambassador Grace Asirwatham has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission on Women by the President of Sri Lanka, on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.
The Commission, established under the Women Empowerment Act No. 37 of 2024, is mandated to promote, protect, and advance women’s rights and gender equality in Sri Lanka. It is also empowered to investigate violations and potential violations of women’s rights.
Since its formal establishment in September 2025, the Commission has been working towards full operationalisation by developing its institutional framework, administrative systems, human resources, and infrastructure.
Grace Asirwatham has had a distinguished diplomatic career, serving as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Nepal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as Head of Mission to the European Union. She also served as Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The Commission members include Shreen Saroor, Janaha Selvaras, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, Dr. Padma Gunaratne, Dr. Kalana Senaratne, and M.U. Gayani, while K.D.R. Olga serves as Executive Director.
Together, the team is working towards making the Commission fully operational to effectively promote and protect women’s rights and empowerment in Sri Lanka.
