Lihini Fernando on Redesigning Power for Women in Sri Lankan Politics

Lihini Fernando is an Attorney-at-Law and Municipal Councillor in Sri Lanka, known for her work at the intersection of law, governance, and women’s political participation. With a professional background spanning legal practice, social advocacy, and entrepreneurship, she represents a new generation of women leaders entering public office through local governance while advocating for structural reforms to make political spaces more inclusive.

In this Worth Asking interview, Lihini reflects on her transition from law and activism to electoral politics, the structural barriers that continue to limit women’s representation in Sri Lanka, and the gendered scrutiny women leaders often face in public life. She also discusses how her legal training shapes her approach to governance, the importance of institutional reforms such as quotas and enabling political systems, and her message to young women considering a future in politics. Through her experiences, she offers insights into what meaningful women’s political leadership could look like—not only in numbers, but in power and influence.

Your journey includes being a lawyer, social activist, business professional, and now a municipal councillor. Tell us about the moment you decided to enter electoral politics.

Lihini Fernando: Thank you for having me for this discussion. It's truly a pleasure to share my experience and learnings here. I hope these will enable anybody who's interested in entering politics someday. 

Since my childhood, I've always been someone who always spoke up against injustice. So activism has always been part of my personality and this is why I became a lawyer. I wanted to extend my work to social and public service to bring social change, something I firmly believe in. In 2018, a new regulation for women in politics was brought in, reserving 25% seats for women in local councils. When this happened, I found it to be an ideal opportunity for me to work from a political platform. When I got into politics, the political landscape in Sri Lanka was far different. I was one of the very early entrants, who broke the stereotypes and the status quo for women in local councils. It was a very conventional mechanism and with about 3% women in total. 

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s famous saying, ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’,  I thought you know why not extend my experience and knowledge by being involved and by being present for people. That was one of the reasons why I entered politics in 2018, and yes, it has been a very challenging and interesting journey, lots of learning, lots of obstacles but I have navigated them until now.

Tell us about an usual path for women entering Municipal elections in Sri Lanka today? Is it different from before the 2022 uprising? What were the opportunities and challenges you experienced at the entry point?

Lihini Fernando: Usually, you must be affiliated with a political party to receive nominations. You have to know the local organiser in your area, and if you work with them, you may eventually get nominations to contest. For me, as a lawyer and professional, my path was different because there were very few educated people in politics at that time. My organizer was also an educated professional who actually paved the way for me. I didn't have the conventional challenge of having to work the grassroots and win over a reluctant organizer for a nomination.

The scenario for women in politics changed significantly after the 2018 regulation that introduced the 25% quota, not necessarily because of the 2022 uprising. However, the uprising did change the general outlook on politics in Sri Lanka. People began challenging the status quo, and the focus shifted from nepotism to meritocracy and giving opportunities to people who are educated and passionate. It is no longer about having the right family name to be in politics. I would say the 2022 uprising gave women more legitimacy, and the importance of women’s representation was discussed far more widely.

The opportunities and challenges are quite challenging to navigate. You have to navigate the conventional political party structure and, once nominated, you have to sustain yourself by fighting with the patriarchal hierarchy and conservative men politicians. There is no clear, separate path created just because you are a woman; the playing field is not level. You have to win over the public’s confidence, which is difficult as people often look at traditional candidates. When I contested in my 30s, people questioned if a young, educated lawyer could get to the grassroots and do the work. You have to constantly win confidence and build it over time.

Politics and law both have deep cultural and social norms when it comes to women’s participation. Would you say your legal background influenced the way you approach political leadership and governance? If so, how?

Lihini Fernando: Yes, being a lawyer helped immensely. It instilled certain norms and values in me. Law trained me to respect the process, be accountable, always be factual, and focus on evidence rather than rhetoric. It also taught me how power structures operate and that everything is about practice, not just paper.

A legal background brings a lot of integrity and authenticity. I believe in the ability to challenge, to take firm decisions, to be consistent in my opinion, and to never take no for an answer. I maintain my status and my integrity in politics, using that foundation to penetrate governance. It’s not just about talk; it’s about having the knowledge and living what you believe in.

Women in politics often face additional scrutiny from the media, peers, and society for being a woman. Have you encountered such differential treatment to you or a colleague, and if so, how have you responded to it?

Lihini Fernando: Yes, there is scrutiny, especially when you are competent, which people often perceive as a challenge. The scrutiny frequently shifts from competency to character, and from policy to personality. Women are constantly questioned about their tone, their attire, and their personal life. These are the things that lead to differential treatment.

I have been able to navigate this by being true to what I do and believe, and by being consistently professional in my responses. I focus on substance, professionalism, and credibility. Credibility, I believe, speaks louder than conventional, stereotypical thinking. It is not an easy task for other women, though, because your toughest opponents are often people in your own party who feel challenged by a strong character, which is doubled by the fact that you are a woman.

If you were redesigning Sri Lanka’s political system for women from scratch, what would you change first?

Lihini Fernando: The redesign must start with party structures. Political parties must mandate a quota system to ensure women are given more positions, including significant balance in the top hierarchy and working committees. Women should not just be there to be seen; they must be there to be heard, and new representation must come.

We must also acknowledge and support women in balancing the societal gendered roles they must undergo. A woman has to be a career woman, a mother, and a wife while doing politics, and if she fails in these gendered roles, she is often criticized. The system needs to be redesigned to help women’s politics and not expect them to act exactly like their men counterparts. A woman brings something different to the table, and this difference is crucial for decision-making.

Furthermore, we need to address the challenges women face in campaign finance. Campaigning and generating funds are huge hurdles. A party should have a central structure to support women’s campaigns so they do not have to do their campaign in isolation. The whole design must start from the party’s conviction: if a party truly believes women are the catalyst of change, that belief will determine the future of women in politics. I would try to create a level playing field based on equity, where the support given is tailored to the needs of each person, not by serving everyone with the same spoon.

Worth Asking also looks at allyship. What does meaningful allyship, especially from men colleagues or institutions, look like to you, and where do you see it falling short?

Lihini Fernando: I have had great counterparts, and this allyship often comes from very educated, professional men who have been excellent at giving opportunities and recognising capable women.

Meaningful allyship means action. It looks like:

• A man standing up for a woman when she is not present or when she is being victimised.

• Opening doors of opportunities for women and giving them due respect and place.

• Providing backing, mentorship, sponsorship, and inclusion in decision-making.

Where it falls short is sometimes it’s all talk and no action. When it comes to power sharing, certain men do not like to share power with women, even if they are capable, because they fear women will disrupt the conventional status quo. However, educated men look at everyone as equal partners and focus on what they bring to the table.

Looking ahead, what gives you hope about the future of women’s political leadership in Sri Lanka, and what still needs urgent rethinking?

Lihini Fernando: A future of politics in Sri Lanka should be one with more women in politics. Women bring a different, holistic perspective to governance and lack the “tunnel vision” men often have. If knowledgeable, experienced women bring their expertise to the table, it will definitely enrich governance, and men must accept that. What gives me hope is the current parliament having 22 women, which is an excellent move. The future depends on whether these 22 women deliver and take on significant roles and responsibilities to show the country what a woman in leadership can achieve.

Things that need rethinking and action urgently are;

• Regulation and Quotas: Our women's representation has been as low as 5%. We need mandatory quotas, at least for the start, to put a minimum of 25% women in parliament to open the way for more women.

• Supportive Policies: Implementing gender-sensitive budgeting and better understanding women-related issues.

• Challenging Stereotypes: Women should not just be confined to roles linked to women’s problems; they can shape economic policy, finance, defense, and any subject. We must normalize female leadership across all sectors and break the standard stereotype. Men should not be scared of having educated women at the table who will challenge them.

  
  

Today, women are more assertive, less apologetic, informed, and unafraid to take decisions. They are becoming more strategic leaders, and this gives me hope that the future of women's politics will be better. I would encourage more young girls and women to get involved, not just by contesting elections, but at the party and policy level too. If you believe in change, you must come forward, because the future of any country is women.

Credits

Interviewee: Lihini Fernando

Interviewer: Riya Hira

Series: Worth Asking 2025-26

Editor: Sugandha Parmar

Design & Layout & Social Media Outreach: Riya Hira

Stay tuned for more Worth Asking Interviews.

This interview is a part of the Worth Asking Series 2025-26. The series aims to bring conversations with women in politics about politics as a career choice and with men politicians about their role as allies.

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Read previous interviews in the Worth Asking Series,here.