Sri Lanka, March 20 -- Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised the urgent need to increase women's participation in the economic sector, both globally and in Sri Lanka.

She pointed out there are stark gender disparities in labour force participation, with only 47 percent of women globally and 32 percent in Sri Lanka being economically active, compared to 72 percent and 71 percent of men.

"It is crucial to address the systemic barriers such as limited access to finance, markets, skilled labour and technology, which hinder the entrepreneurial endeavours of women," said Dr. Amarasuriya at the launch of the Women's Entrepreneurial Finance Code, this week.

Women in Sri Lanka also face numerous challenges, she added, due to the unsa...