Women, Development and Social Transformation Conference organised by International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs)  and Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka | 5th April 2025, Colombo.

Programme

8-9 am: Registration

9 – 10.30 am: Inaugural Session

Chair and Welcome address: Dr. Sakuntala Kadirgamar (Executive Director, Law and Society Trust)

Introduction to conference: Prof. Sumangala Damodaran (Director, Gender and Economics, IDEAs)

Setting the context: Challenges for Women in the Global South

Prof. Jayati Ghosh (Department of Economics, UMass, Amherst)

Prof. Farzana Haniffa (University of Colombo)

10.30 – 11: Tea/coffee break

11.00 am – 1 pm: Women as Workers: Paid and Unpaid Work, the Care Economy and Migration

Ms. Madhulika Gunawardene (Dabindu Collective and Yukthi, Sri Lanka),

Dr. Nida Kirmani (Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan)

Ms. Swasthika Arulingam (President, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union, Sri Lanka)

Dr. Natalia Flores Garrido (Senior Programme Officer, Gender and Economics, IDEAs),

Chair: Ms. Mini Sukumar

1 – 2 pm: Lunch

2.00-3.30 pm: Poverty alleviation, Financial Inclusion and Women as Entrepreneurs

Ms. Amali Wedegedara (Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Sri Lanka)

Ms. Mini Sukumar (Member, State Planning Board, Kerala, India)

Ms. Mayada Hassanain (Senior Programme Officer for Gender and Economics, IDEAs)

Prof. Ahilan Kadirgamar (University of Jaffna and IDEAs)

Chair: Prof. Sumangala Damodaran

3.30 – 4  pm: Tea/coffee break

4 -5 pm: Closing session: The Global Situation and Possibilities for Progressive Gender Policy Alternatives

Ms. Lakmali Hemachandra, Member of Parliament, Sri Lanka

Prof. C.P. Chandrasekhar (Global Director for Research and Policy, IDEAs),

Chair: Prof. Ahilan Kadirgamar