Women's participation in economic progress limited - Gomes

Sri Lankan women need to do jobs which create commercial value for the economy and have to get out of the shell without adhering to traditional norms and take the lead in supporting the country's economy, Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC Managing Director and CEO Dr Kishu Gomes said.

"The legal system in the country should be more supportive for women to add more commercial value to the country with their fullest participation. It is a timely to do more inventions that have potential to uplift the country's economic conditions. Creativity and knowledge should also be used wisely by women to take the local and global challenges coming their way," Gomes said.

Addressing the Women in Management meeting yesterday, he said women's participation in the economic progress in the country is very limited and it is lower than rich countries in the world. The current workforce in the country is 8.5 million and the women workforce is less than 50 percent in the country.

"Human resource is the key driving force for the development of the country as Lanka lacks technology, capital and land when compared to other countries in the world. "Talents and skills of the rising population should be utilized in an effective manner by these countries".

He said India is effectively managing its human resources and it is ruling the world in technology and IT fields.

"Most Sri Lankan women are wasting their positive energy at home and time management is also important for a woman to use her ability and skills wisely. However, Sri Lankan women are brilliant when it comes to studies and they need to be mindful when selecting certain stream in competitive examinations while understanding the new fields that give more opportunities for them to climb the corporate ladder," Gomes said. IH