The National Training for Women Entrepreneurs on Promoting Business through E-Commerce and Digital Marketing, initiated by the Sri Lanka Embassy and Permanent Mission to UNESCAP in Thailand and jointly organised with the South and South-West Asia Office of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in New Delhi (ESCAP-SSWA) and seven prime Government institutions in Sri Lanka was held from 01-03 November 2022 at Suhurupaya, Sri Lanka, with the objective to facilitate and support women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka and to expand women’s e-commerce and digital marketing initiative in Sri Lanka.

Under the project “E-Commerce Capacity Building for Women-led Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in South Asia” of the UNESCAP, 85 women entrepreneurs nominated by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, National Crafts Council, Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, Ministry of Women, Child Affairs & Social Empowerment, Industrial Development Board, Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board and Institute for Agro-Technology & Rural Sciences of the University of Colombo were provided hands on experience during the 03 day programme. Suveera Saxena and Deepali Gotadke of the ESCAP-SSWA were the resource persons.

The inaugural address of the National Training was delivered by Minister of Plantation Industries and Minister of Industries of Sri Lanka, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and welcome remarks were delivered by Director and Head, ESCAP-SSWA, Mikiko Tanaka and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy.

Secretary of the Ministry of Industries of Sri Lanka, J. M. Thilaka Jayasundara, Associate Chief Digital Economy Officer, Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), Sachindra Samararatne and Former Chairperson, LOLC Holdings, Rohini Nanayakkara joined the panel discussion on “Policy advocacy for creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka”.

At the end of the training, the Chairman, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Suresh De Mel delivered a special address and concluding remarks were made by Chairman, National Crafts Council of Sri Lanka, Sampath Erahapola and Chairperson, Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, Kumudini Gunasekara.

Director and Head ESCAP-SSWA Mikiko Tanaka had bilateral meetings with Minister of Plantation Industries and Minister of Industries of Sri Lanka Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, Director General of the Sustainable Development Council Chamindry Saparamadu, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury R.M.P. Rathnayake and Director General-Planning of the Ministry of Transport & Highways, Chinthaka Hettiarachchi during her visit.