COLOMBO, June 1 -- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed retired diplomat Grace Asirwatham as Chairperson of the National Women's Commission (NWC), following a recommendation by the Constitutional Council.

The appointment comes as the newly established Commission moves towards full operational status under the Women's Empowerment Act No. 37 of 2024, which provides the legal framework for advancing, protecting and promoting women's rights in Sri Lanka.

The National Women's Commission, formally established in September 2025, is mandated to safeguard women's rights and gender equality, investigate actual or potential violations of those rights, and promote women's empowerment across the country.

Since its establishment, the Com...