The Digital Battle Faced by Sri Lanka's Women Politicians

Rising Representation, Rising Abuse:

- By Shreen Abdul Saroor and Nabeela Iqbal

The 2024 parliamentary and local authority elections in Sri Lanka marked a notable shift in women’s political participation. With 22 women in parliament, nearly all newcomers, and 1,957 women (24.8 per cent) elected to local councils, the country has made commendable progress. From having 13 women in parliament, we now have 22 and many of them entered politics without any familial political lineage, breaking the South Asian norm of dynastic entry through male relatives. This shift should be celebrated, but it has also come with a disturbing cost.

Misogyny in the Digital Age

While their presence signals democratic progress, many of these women have become targets of gender-based abuse, especially online. The Mannar Women’s Development Federation (MWDF) and Women’s Action Network (WAN) have tracked a sharp rise in social media harassment, ranging from sexualised insults to viral disinformation in Tamil, especially during the last parliament and local authority elections. These are not just political critiques. They are deeply misogynistic attacks aimed at humiliating, silencing, and delegitimising women leaders. Most online discourse avoids policy or performance, instead focusing on women’s looks, clothing, personal lives, or relationships.

Sexism in Parliament: A Recent Case in Point

On September 10, 2025, MP Prasad Siriwardena of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) mocked MP Lakmali Hemachandra (NPP) for not being “beautiful enough”. The remark, disguised as parliamentary banter, revealed the entrenched sexism even within Sri Lanka’s highest democratic spaces. Despite a public apology, the message was clear: women in politics are still judged by appearance, not ability.

Online Targeted Harassment and Character Assassination

Across the country, women politicians during the last parliamentary election have faced coordinated smear campaigns: