Compared to their South Asian neighbours, Sri Lankan woman enjoy relatively high levels of literacy and representation in education and the workforce.

Gender inequality, however, is still a major issue for the country.

Sewalanka's gender program was established to improve the social, economic, psychological and spiritual well-being of both women and men, particularly those from Sri Lanka's poor, socially marginalised and vulnerable communities.

In 2005 a series of training workshops were conducted for Sewalanka's southern gender focal points and field staff to create awareness about gender issues, gender sensitivity and gender auditing practices. Funding for the program was provided by Concern Worldwide.

To further build on these skills, additional workshops were held in November 2006 for 42 staff members from Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts.

Train-the-trainer-style programs involving skills training in positive thinking and gender were conducted in Colombo by Mr Saman Weerawansa, a senior lecturer from the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Sessions focused on gender mainstreaming, gender mobilisation and training methods, and physiological and biological approaches.

Senior lecturer from the Department of Sociology at the University of Peradeniya, Mr Karunatissa Atukorala also conducted a workshop which focused on gender and development. The session looked at how to incorporate gender in project activities including the importance of gender analysis, gender participation in projects, and meeting objectives without gender discrimination.