Intro:

The situation for women in Sri Lanka is not optimal. However, grassroots organizations, such as the Women and Media Collective, are working hard to remedy that – challenging patriarchal norms and advocating for policy change.

At the UN for the Commission on the Status of Women, Programme Director Sepali Kottegoda spelled out her goal for a “feminist transformation of power relations within the country.”

Pushing hard to change both practices and the law, she points out that when using the word feminist, “People get a little worried, we are not worried.”

This was clear to see as Ms. Kottegoda spoke to Liz Scaffidi, beginning by telling her how women are represented in the Sri Lankan media.