Retired Ambassador Grace Asirwatham has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission on Women (NCW) by the President of Sri Lanka on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.
Established under the Women Empowerment Act No. 37 of 2024, the National Commission on Women is mandated to promote, protect, and advance women’s rights and gender equality in Sri Lanka, including investigating violations or potential violations of such rights.
Since its formal establishment in September 2025, the Commission has been working towards full operationalisation by developing its institutional framework, administrative systems, human resources, and infrastructure.
Grace Asirwatham has served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Nepal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as Head of Mission to the European Union. She also served as Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The Commission’s members include Shreen Saroor, Janaha Selvaras, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, Dr. Padma Gunaratne, Dr. Kalana Senaratne, and M.U. Gayani, while K.D.R. Olga serves as Executive Director. Together, they are guiding the Commission towards full operational readiness to effectively advance the rights and empowerment of women in Sri Lanka.
