Colombo: Women’s participation in Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry remains below 10%, according to Russell Clements, the General Manager of Public and Cultural Relations at Uga Ulagalla Resort.
Clements highlighted that parental concerns about safety and the challenges of sustaining a career in the hospitality sector discourage many young women from entering the field. ““Parents’ perceptions regarding safety and the distance involved in pursuing a career in the hospitality industry often discourage them from supporting their daughters in joining the field, and this applies to husbands once women are married as well,” he explained.
As part of efforts to change this trend, Uga Ulagalla Resort, a five-star hotel, aims to increase women’s participation in its workforce to 20%.
The accompanying photograph features Dilrukshi Priyadarshani from Athungama, who began her career as a housekeeping staff member and has since risen to the position of Front Office Manager at the hotel.
