Women's Education & Research Centre (WERC)

05/10/2026

Click on the link to register - https://forms.gle/mDjxuRcHuNGUz8bL6

Note - Participation is subject to selection, and selected applicants will be contacted by WERC with further details

Application Deadline - 14th October, 2026

The Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC) is organizing the National Symposium 2026 on 21st and 22nd October 2026 at Ramada, Colombo.

The symposium, themed “Women, Wellness, and the Future: Building Inclusive Communities, Wholesome Growth, and the Way Forward for Women,” will provide a platform for researchers, academics, activists, professionals, students, and civil society representatives to share knowledge, research, and experiences on issues affecting women and gender equality.

The symposium will focus on five key areas:

Reproductive well-being and tradition
Digital literacy and technology
Workplace equality and safe spaces
Feminist perspectives in religion and society
Gender-based violence and global strategies relevant to Sri Lanka

15/09/2026

WERC hosted an intensive two-day workshop at the Royal Kandyan Hotel in Kandy on the 21st and 22nd of August, 2026, bringing together 30 youth leaders from across Sri Lanka to strengthen their leadership and to create the space to revisit their faiths through a feminist perspective. The comprehensive program integrated key discussions on Gender Equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and Mental Health, guiding participants through mental healing activities, core gender concepts, and strategies for challenging stereotypes, followed by practical sessions on youth participation, gender justice, and feminist interpretation of religious texts. By equipping these emerging leaders with critical tools to align their faith with social equity, this initiative aims to foster more inclusive and empowered faith communities throughout the country.

22/07/2026

Empowering Women Development Officers to become stronger advocates for gender equality and women's health.

On 9th and 10th July 2026, Women Development Officers from the Kandy and Matale Districts participated in a two-day training facilitated by Ms. Hashi Silva, Lecturer at the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) and Psychosocial Counsellor. The sessions covered Gender-Based Violence (GBV), gender concepts, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR),and period poverty, equipping participants with valuable knowledge and practical insights to support women and girls in their communities.

The training was highly interactive, and participants shared positive feedback, highlighting the relevance and usefulness of the sessions in strengthening their professional practice.

06/07/2026

29/05/2026

📢 CALL FOR PAPERS: WERC National Symposium 2026!

Theme: Women, Wellness, and the Future.

📍 Abstract Deadline: 15 July 2026
📍 Full Paper Deadline: 20 Sept 2026

Scan the QR to submit!
Google Form link - https://forms.gle/Dp2D9yoVJsqCjmth7
Guidelines for submissions - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uFA_Y3T_c_Rd2mVrtvOKysmCxpnlQpDy/view?usp=drive_link

12/05/2026

Glimpses of the book launch: "The Journey That Shaped Me", autobiography of Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran.

A beautiful evening celebrating the life and work of Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, writer, researcher and Founder Executive Director of the Women's Education and Research Centre was held on the 25th of April, 2026 at the Girls' Friendly Society, Colombo 03.

The guest speakers at the event were Prof. Sonia Amin, formerly of the Department of History, University of Dhaka, and Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Executive Director, Women and Media Collective.

A first copy was presented to Dr. Kumari Jayawardena, Co-founder of the Women's Education and Research Centre and former Secretary of the Social Scientists Association, and Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The evening served as a powerful reminder of the collective journey of the women's movement and the profound impact of one woman’s vision and voice.

Lanka

31/03/2026

The award ceremony for the second cohort (2025) of the Certificate Course in Women’s Studies was held on March 26, 2026, at the University of Jaffna. A collaborative initiative between the Women’s Education and Research Centre (WERC) and the Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) of the University of Jaffna, the event was graced by Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor Thirunavukkarasu Velnampy and members of the university faculty.

The Certificate Course in Women's Studies is supported by CREA under the Feminist Opportunities Now (FON) project.

23/03/2026

Pravahini - Sinhala Newsletter

Deadline for submissions - 05th April, 2026

16/03/2026

On 12th March, WERC organized an educational session for 150 students at the Thalalla Vocational Training Centre on Gender-Based Violence and its implications on mental health. The session was conducted by Ms. Hashi Silva, Lecturer and Psychological Counsellor. The session focused on gender based violence, its impact on mental health and available helplines. The students also received booklets that focus on expanding their understanding on sexual and reproductive health rights.

10/03/2026

“Rights, Justice, Action: For ALL Women and Girls”

This International Women's Day 2026, the Women's Education and Research Centre brought together members of civil society, academics and youth, reiterating the urgent need to advance the rights of women and girls and address the various forms of violence and discrimination they face within both physical and digital spaces.

Held on Saturday, 07 March 2026, at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Orchid Hall, the program featured creative awareness performances. A puppet show by the Women’s Centre highlighted the issue of violence against women, using storytelling to reflect the lived realities of many women and the importance of collective action. Performances by Prajadiriya Foundation, Puttalam, utilizing traditional folk art focused on digital violence against women, raising awareness about harassment and abuse faced by women within online spaces.

A panel discussion on “Addressing Workplace Harassment Against Women and Strengthening Access to Support and Helpline Services in Sri Lanka” featured Chamila Thushari, Yogeshwari Krishnan, Naushalya Rajapaksha, and Supeshala Rathnayake - prominent members of civil society, who shared their expertise and insights on workplace challenges faced by women, the importance of institutional accountability, and the need to strengthen accessible support mechanisms and helpline services for survivors of harassment and violence.

WERC remains committed to bridging the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that institutional accountability and support services reach those who need them most.