Colombo, Sri Lanka Public transportation board of Sri Lanka – In an increasingly interconnected world, public transport serves as the lifeblood of urban and rural economies, connecting people to opportunities, education, and essential services. Yet, for a significant portion of the population, particularly women and girls, the journey itself can be fraught with challenges related to safety and inclusion. In Sri Lanka, dedicated efforts are underway to transform the public transport landscape into a more gender-sensitive and secure environment. While specific breaking news from the last 24-48 hours on this niche topic remains nascent, recent governmental and inter-agency initiatives in mid-2025 highlight a clear and sustained commitment to advancing gender inclusion.

The conversation around gender inclusion in Sri Lankan public transport gained significant momentum with a series of pivotal announcements and campaign launches earlier this year. These developments underscore a growing recognition that ensuring safe and equitable access to transport is not merely a social issue but a critical driver of national development and women’s economic empowerment.

National Campaign Against Sexual Harassment Takes Center Stage

A landmark development in Sri Lanka’s pursuit of gender-inclusive public transport was the launch of a national campaign to address sexual harassment in public transport and public spaces. Officially initiated on July 23, 2025, this comprehensive campaign is a collaborative effort between the Government of Sri Lanka, specifically the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, alongside the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funded by the Government of Japan.

The campaign emerged from a stark reality: a national study by UNFPA in 2015 revealed that a staggering 90% of women and girls in Sri Lanka have experienced sexual harassment on public transport at least once in their lives. Despite this pervasive issue, only about 4-5% of incidents are reported to the police, highlighting a significant reporting gap and a normalization of harassment. This “silent epidemic,” as described by UNFPA Representative Kunle Adeniyi, deeply damages lives, restricts freedom of movement, and undermines women’s access to education, livelihoods, and public life.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, emphasized the government’s commitment, stating that “safety is not a luxury, but a right” and affirming that “sexual harassment has no place in our buses, trains, or stations”. Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, further articulated that gender-based violence in public spaces is a human rights issue, directly impacting women’s ability to participate fully in society.

Key Initiatives and Measures

The national campaign is multifaceted, focusing on prevention, reporting, and cultural shifts. Key initiatives include:

• Awareness and Bystander Action: A series of short videos, posters, leaflets, and digital messages are being disseminated to encourage bystander intervention and promote a culture of zero tolerance for harassment.
• Dedicated Reporting Channels: The campaign prominently features reporting hotlines, including the Women’s Helpline (1938) and the Police Children and Women Bureau (109), on all campaign materials.
• Technological Solutions: Minister Rathnayake announced upcoming measures such as GPS tracking systems on all long-distance buses and a dedicated WhatsApp number on every bus for passengers to report incidents discreetly and directly.
• Capacity Building: Training sessions on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and bystander actions are being conducted for driving instructors, senior management of provincial transport authorities, and actively for private and government bus drivers, conductors, and train staff.
• Policy Integration: UNFPA is supporting the development of a Code of Conduct for transport sector staff and integrating a Gender and GBV training module into the national training curriculum for public transport institutions. The campaign also aligns with Sri Lanka’s National Action Plan on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (2024-2028) and the government’s ‘CLEAN Sri Lanka’ vision for a safe, inclusive, and people-centred transport system.

Paving the Way: Women in the Public Transport Workforce

Beyond safety, gender inclusion also encompasses equitable employment opportunities. In a significant policy shift announced in March 2025, Minister Bimal Rathnayake confirmed a decision to recruit women into the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and railway service. This groundbreaking move, coinciding with International Women’s Day, aims to integrate women into traditionally male-dominated roles such as bus drivers, train pilots, and guards. Minister Rathnayake even expressed a personal vision for female drivers to operate school buses in the future, signaling a proactive approach to expanding career opportunities for women and fostering a more inclusive workforce. This initiative not only promotes gender equality but also aims to enhance the perception of safety and professionalism within the transport sector.

A Broader Vision for Gender Equality

These efforts in public transport are part of a larger national commitment to gender equality. In March 2025, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya highlighted that while Sri Lanka boasts a high literacy rate and a significant female presence in universities, only 35% of women participate in the paid workforce, underscoring the need for structural and attitudinal changes. Her remarks came during the launch of ‘THRIVE – Together for Her: Resilience-building, Inclusivity, and Voices for Equality in Sri Lanka’, a five-year initiative by UN Women and Chrysalis, funded by the Government of Australia, aimed at strengthening the economic and social resilience of marginalized women. The current President’s manifesto from September 2024 also included promises to revise laws and procedures to guarantee protection from gender-based violence and harassment in public transport, among other spaces, further cementing a top-down commitment to these issues.

The Path Forward: Sustained Commitment and Collective Action

The journey towards full gender inclusion in public transport in Sri Lanka is ongoing. While challenges like overcrowding, lack of bystander intervention, and fear of retaliation persist, the recent initiatives demonstrate a determined push from various stakeholders. The integration of technology, comprehensive training, and robust awareness campaigns, coupled with policy decisions to diversify the workforce, signal a promising future. By prioritizing the safety, dignity, and equal participation of women and girls, Sri Lanka is not only enhancing its public transport system but also fostering a more equitable and prosperous society for all.