MULLAITIVU — The Mullaitivu District is grappling with a staggering humanitarian reality as officials reveal that thousands of families are being sustained solely by the resilience of women. During a recent event hosted by the Viluthu Foundation for Women, District Secretary A. Umamaheswaran highlighted that out of 47,000 households in the region, 2,700 are exclusively female-led, with over 6,000 women identified as widows.
However, these figures may only scratch the surface of a larger crisis. Research conducted by the Viluthu Foundation, which specializes in supporting women’s entrepreneurship and livelihoods, suggests that the traditional definition of a “female head of household” is far too narrow. By analyzing social dynamics in the North and East, researchers identified 11 main categories and over 100 sub-divisions of women facing unique challenges. Experts estimate that if these inclusive definitions were officially adopted, the true number of female-headed households in the Northern and Eastern provinces could reach as high as 150,000.
“It is especially the women’s hard work that keeps families afloat,” Mr. Umamaheswaran remarked. “Primarily, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the district are run by women, and it is their innovation, determination, and effort that help their families, this community, and this district survive.”
Operating in one of the poorest regions in Sri Lanka, these women often carry the weight of household survival on their shoulders. To address this, the Viluthu Foundation for Women—an organization with roots spanning over two decades—has launched the “Her Rise” initiative. By coordinating with the District Secretariat, the Foundation has begun pairing essential equipment with the specific skill sets of women across all six Divisional Secretariats, bridging divides by supporting Tamil, Muslim, and Sinhala women alike.
The Foundation’s approach moves beyond simple donations. It aims to connect women to sustainable markets, provide mentorship, and foster collective support systems. “The premise of Her Rise is simple: when she rises, communities rise,” noted Mr. Shivananth of the Foundation. “Give her the tools to earn with dignity, and the return reaches her children’s schooling, her family’s nutrition, and her community’s recovery.”
The initiative has already gained significant traction through the support of private donors, most notably the Durrai family from Singapore, who have pledged to fund aid for 1,000 women. To date, their contributions have supported 182 women in Kilinochchi and over 130 in Mullaitivu.
The Viluthu Foundation, led by Maithreyi and Aaranya Rajasingam, continues the legacy of their mother, the late social visionary Shanthi Sachithanandam. With an ambitious goal to empower 100,000 vulnerable women across Sri Lanka, the organization is calling on further corporate and individual support. By co-designing programs directly with beneficiaries, the Foundation hopes to convert goodwill into measurable, multi-generational change.
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