HER FUTURE WITH DIGITAL LITERACY: REBUILDING SRI LANKA BY EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
There is a saying that echoes as I pen these words of thought: “After every storm, a nation rises not from what it has lost but from what its people choose to rebuild.”
Our dear motherland stands at a national crossroads. The devastating floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah have not only caused upheavals of communities but also altered the country’s economic landscape for the worst.
As hometowns, businesses and livelihoods gradually arise from the ruins, one brutal truth is clear: our nation’s recovery depends on the hope, prayers and empowering of the people who are at the core of families, communities and local economies together — the women of Sri Lanka.
A new beginning: Digital literacy as a pillar of national recovery
Women encompass majority of the population, yet only a mere 34 percent actively contribute in the nation’s economy (ICTA, 2024). With small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contributing nearly 40 percent of GDP in emerging economies, as a study carried out globally by the Cherie Blair Foundation (2025), women-led businesses are known to be the backbone of post-disaster recovery.
Hence, I want to make it loud and clear; digital literacy now becomes a key tool that keeps entrepreneurs connected to surviving and new markets, existing and potential customers and fresh opportunity — even when physical infrastructure and existing systems collapse. However, in a globally hi-tech world, where advanced digital usage is prevalent, usage in women in Sri Lanka remains low (LIRNEasia, 2024). Thus, boosting women’s digital capabilities will be a key driver for resilience, adaptation and national rebuilding of Sri Lanka where women can do this from the safety of their homes.
Women and digital literacy: Why this moment matters more than ever
“In the darkest moments, knowledge becomes a lifeline — and learning becomes hope.”
The devastating consequences of the floods have not only destructed the beautiful Sri Lankan landscape but also altered and increased the gap and exposed new vulnerabilities and inequalities in the people’s livelihoods. For thousands of women this means their modes of transport, places of living and loss of a workplace and gathering only exacerbates the women’s economic participation.
Digital literacy offers a sense of hope and a guided pathway to overcome these obstacles, empowering women to access essential commodities such as education opportunities, income generations, access to healthcare, participation and benefitting of relief programmes and overall dynamic and productive community support — even in the midst of all the desolation and chaos.
Despite the slow and steady progress, Sri Lanka’s digital gender divide statistics highlight that only 41.4 percent of women use the internet and a shocking 16.2 percent use email regularly (ICTA, 2024). This widening divide restricts women’s access to information and income opportunities, making them highly vulnerable during moments of crises such as the current Cyclone Ditwah.
The National Digital Strategy for Women Development (2024–2026) had highlighted this important point while noting that educational parity exists, women continue to significantly be underrepresented in advanced digital sectors, key decisional making roles and STEM-oriented careers. At this critical juncture, it is reiterated with much serious emphasis that equipping women with digital skills is essential not only for individual hope and empowerment but for national resilience and inclusive economic renewal and survival.
Digital skills for women entrepreneurs: A pathway to economic resilience
Like a lotus blooming and spreading its fragrance above the muddy water, “Resilience is not the absence of hardship — it is the ability to transform challenges into new beginnings.” For women entrepreneurs, digital literacy is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. It is the lotus. When businesses close, roads crumble and supply chains break, digital tools enable businesses to stay alive and afloat.
E-commerce platforms assist rural businesses reach customers far beyond their immediate surroundings, which may be devastated by floods. Digital payment systems via mobile devices and online presence ensure continuity when physical cash flow is halted. Social media offers cost-effective branding and customer engagement to keep everyone updated on the business.
Studies indicate that Sri Lankan women-led SMEs, who leverage these digital platforms, have achieved income increases to an impressive 40 percent, even during economic instability, which was seen in the past, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis in 2020 (Global Communities, 2024).
As the National Digital Economy Strategy (2024) notes, digital adoption is the most reliable predictor of SME resilience during climate-related disasters, which can clearly be seen in the current situation. Even if you are a young and budding woman in Kalutara, selling handmade products online or a tuition teacher in Mannar teaching via video, digital tools are enabling women to rebuild with confidence, dignity and renewed strength that is a key tool for survival.
Current initiatives: Progress and persistent gaps
“Recovery begins where opportunity meets access.”
It is important to acknowledge and praise past efforts of organisations, which have taken the initiatives to see such progress in women’s digital literacy capacities.
The Suhuruliya (SMART Woman) initiative had upskilled more than 17,500 women, which has positively contributed to Rs.1.2 billion in strengthening the revenue and intensifying community-based digital support networks (ICTA, 2024). Collaborations between the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Digital Sri Lanka, World Vision and other humanitarian organisations have been especially crucial on district level in shaping and bringing such strength and hope for the women entrepreneurs in the local neighbourhood. This needs to be reiterated and initiated again especially in areas that are most affected by the floods.
As much as most of this looks positive and promising, it is also important to address the persisting challenges. Most women remain digitally omitted due to the limited device access as it can be expensive to procure them, poor connectivity, due to increasing digital divide as there are less transmission towers in village areas and low digital confidence overall from usage, due to lack of digital education. In flood-affected areas, infrastructure damage exacerbates these gaps as this puts more pressure on the financial burdens to get these in working condition again.
As noted by the national digital economy strategy, bureaucratic delays, inconsistent digital policy implementation and insufficient gender-sensitive programmes all add to the constraints of the country’s ability to scale digital empowerment.
WCIC’s role in strengthening and rebuilding women’s economic power
“When you empower a woman, you rebuild a community — and when you rebuild communities, you rebuild a nation.”
This is a key message which the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) has echoed and continues to play a transformative role in empowering women for nearly four decades. In the wake of these floods, its mission has become even more critical in looking into these perennial issues and bring into awareness to the responsible and accountable parties.
The WCIC’s digital literacy and financial training programmes have equipped entrepreneurs with practical skills to restart businesses in the past and will continue to help women entrepreneurs to navigate digital markets and maintain financial independence. Its annual marketplace initiatives, including major seasonal fairs in and around Colombo, provide alleviating platforms for women, irrespective of age and other demographic profiles from the affected areas to sustain income and gain new customer outreach.
Furthermore, looking from a macroeconomic lens, the export-readiness initiatives — such as the Ramp Up fashion showcase — have unlocked global pathways for rural and underserved and underrepresented women. Through rigorous policy advocacy, the WCIC continues to push for gender-sensitive reforms, greater access to sustaining capital and enhanced digital infrastructure. Finally at the zenith of its empowering programs, the Women Entrepreneur Awards highlight stories of resilience and innovation, inspiring thousands of women to rise above adversity and bloom and fragrance like the lotuses they are destined to be.
National solutions for a digitally resilient economy
“A resilient nation is built not by rebuilding what was lost but by creating systems that can withstand tomorrow’s storms.”
It is very important to ensure that the new Sri Lanka’s recovery demands coordinate with national action. Strengthening digital infrastructure and expanding public-private partnerships will be essential to delivering gender-responsive digital solutions (ADB, 2024). Digital policies must integrate gender sensitivity to ensure that technologies support women’s realities across rural and urban settings (ITU and UN Women, 2023).
However, it is disheartening and somewhat troubling to see no women representation in the steering committees, which are selected to rebuild the nations. This cannot continue and women-led forums need to emphasise strongly on the need to include women in disaster recovery management committees if we are to withstand tomorrow’s storms and not make the same mistakes again and again.
Nationwide digital literacy campaigns, irrespective of genders, should prioritise flood-affected districts and digital financial literacy programmes need to be included to support women who need critical access to relief funds, manage online transactions efficiently and rebuild their businesses effectively. Simplifying administrative procedures and reducing red tape will bolster women in re-establishing SMEs more resourcefully. Expansion and encouragements from incubators, increasing access to mentorship programmes, innovation hubs and access to ready capital will significantly contribute to rebuilding a resilient and inclusive national economy better and more robust than pervious calamities. Again, the emphasis being the need to get women at the centre of all key decision-making actions.
Empowering women through everyday digital action
“Every click is a step toward independence. Every new skill learned is a step toward rebuilding.”
An empowered women can take immediate steps toward rebuilding her and the family futures through digital participation. Learning basic digital skills, understanding cybersecurity, exploring digital marketplaces in a cognisant manner or engaging in online education can reshape career pathways shift paradigms and unlock new income sources. Digital marketing, freelancing platforms and online networks help women boost their confidence and foster meaningful and sustaining connections. It is also crucial for existing businesses to include a percentage of women working independently or from home to support the businesses and create a symbiotic relationship, which will help the business ecosystem to thrive even during natural disasters or economic adversities.
When women embrace digital tools naturally and include it into their daily work routine, they become the hopeful catalysts for rebuilding not only their households but their entire communities. Technology becomes the answered prayer, which bridges crisis and opportunity, between today’s uncertainty and tomorrow’s resilience.
Conclusion: Rebuilding stronger together
“She stood in the ruins, not to mourn what was lost but to build what could be.”
I do not want to look back in remorse but to look forward with cautious optimism. To every Sri Lankan woman rising again, like a phoenix rising newborn from her ashes after hardship: your flaming resilience is the foundation of this nation’s recovery. Whether your bold decision to restart a small business, taking the first bold steps in learning your first digital skill or supporting your family through uncertain times, your strength and prayers matter now more than ever.
Your fruitful journey may begin with a single online search and click leading to a new course, or a decision to digitise your craft and creating a digital presence — but that simple step can open doors to an amazing opportunity, satisfying security and glorious independence. As Sri Lanka rebuilds, digitally empowered women will bloom and fragrance the nation’s future. Their ability for innovation, tough courage and unwavering determination will be the guiding light toward a stronger, highly inclusive and certainly a more resilient tomorrow. The digital era for the Sri Lankan women is here. And it has space for every Sri Lankan woman to grow and rise.
(Nadeesha Hemachandra is a distinguished academic and business leader with over 13 years of experience in academia, IT management and corporate leadership. She served as Director of External Operations at Seylanya Holdings in Sri Lanka and is Founder and Director of Aadya Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd.)
Nadeesha Hemachandra
Fellow Member of CPM Sri Lanka