Reframing Support for Women-Headed Households in Post-War Sri Lanka: Policy Gaps and Strategic Recommendations

Despite the fact that nearly one in four households in Sri Lanka is now headed by a woman, policy frameworks and public narratives continue to narrowly frame these households through the lens of post-war widowhood. This policy brief, co-authored by Western Academy Fellow Bipasha Baruah, draws on evidence-based insights from affected households and policy practitioners across Sri Lanka to highlight urgent gaps and to propose inclusive, sustainable, and equitable strategies.

Jentrick, Arun, and Bipasha Baruah. “Reframing Support for Women-Headed Households in Post-War Sri Lanka: Policy Gaps and Strategic Recommendations,” in Policy Tribune 2, no. 1 (2025): 8–14. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership and Public Policy (BALPP).

You can read the full policy brief here.

Arun Jentrick has also presented on the research that informs this policy brief as part of our Research Spotlight Series.