By Tina Edward Gunawardhana

On March 8, the world marks International Women's Day 2026, a day that celebrates the achievements of women while confronting the inequalities that persist. This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” arrives with particular resonance in Sri Lanka, where women continue to navigate the weight of patriarchy, remain underrepresented in Parliament, and are too often overlooked for positions of power and influence. Yet, within these constraints, women are quietly — and powerfully — reshaping society.

What does “Give to Gain” truly mean in this context? Is it sacrifice, strategy, service, or strength? For the remarkable cross-section of women and a man we spoke to — chefs, designers, educators, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and mentors — it is none of these in isolation, and all of them combined. It is the chef who trains the next generation to surpass him. It is the designer who found courage in the very team she empowered. It is the principal who sees confidence blossom through compassion, and the business leader who understands that opening doors multiplies influence.

"Across professions and personal journeys, one truth emerges: when women invest in one another — through mentorship, opportunity, advocacy, and quiet acts of generosity — the return is not merely individual success, but collective progress. In giving, women are not diminished; they are amplified.

Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to identifying potential in individuals and training them to excel as cooks. This commitment includes providing constructive feedback and support, sharing valuable knowledge and resources, recognizing their achievements, and offering ongoing mentorship.

The rewards I have received from this endeavor include the opportunities created for those I have trained, with many advancing to prestigious international positions. Additionally, teaching others enhances my own expertise, ensures that my contributions are remembered, and often leads to unforeseen opportunities in the future.

I urge each of you to identify one individual to mentor, one piece of knowledge to share, or one method to support another this week."
Koluu
Chef

"The pandemic tested us in ways I never imagined. For months, Buddhi Batiks had no sales, and there were moments I genuinely wondered whether we could carry on. When the Sri Lankan government finally permitted apparel manufacturers to operate, I immediately went to Koswadiya, where our batik workshop is located. That day, what I found there changed me.

My team welcomed me with so much love, warmth, and encouragement; that moment, I realised something profound. Empowerment is never one-directional. I had always believed in investing in our team, but it was they who lifted me when I was at my lowest. Their belief gave me the courage to push through the uncertain times.
“Give to Gain” is not simply a theme; it is a truth I have lived. When you genuinely invest in the people around you, they become your greatest strength. That is the quiet power of women supporting one another."
Darshi Keerthisena
Designer

"To me, ‘Give to Gain’ is a guiding principle that has shaped both my journey and the students I am privileged to nurture. At Methodist College, our core values of integrity, compassion, excellence, and service inspire us to give our best — whether through teaching, mentoring, or supporting others. I have seen how acts of giving, big or small, can empower girls and women, build confidence, and create lasting positive change in the community.

By investing time, care, and encouragement in others, we not only help them grow but also grow ourselves. Giving is never a loss; it enriches both the giver and the receiver. This theme resonates deeply with the ethos of our school, where nurturing potential, celebrating strengths, and fostering resilience enable every student to thrive and make a difference in the world."
Devshani Samaranayake
Principal Methodist College, Colombo

"The quote “give to gain” reflects the powerful idea that generosity creates lasting rewards in every area of life. In a professional sense, giving your time, skills, and support helps build trust and credibility. When you mentor colleagues, share knowledge, or collaborate selflessly, you strengthen networks and open doors to new opportunities. True leadership is rooted in service, and those who contribute positively often gain respect, growth, and long-term success.

In a personal sense, “give to gain” highlights the value of kindness and empathy. When you give love, patience, and understanding, you build deeper, more meaningful relationships. Emotional generosity creates bonds of trust and mutual support, leading to personal fulfillment and happiness.

This principle is especially powerful in empowering women. When women support, mentor, and uplift one another, they create strong communities and break barriers together. By giving encouragement, opportunities, and advocacy, society gains confident leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Empowering women ultimately strengthens families, workplaces, and communities as a whole."
Thiyasha De Fonseka Senaweera
Director
Tiesh Jewellers

"Give to Gain, I’m not so sure if giving with a condition resonates with me. But yes, giving with a purpose feels more like something I’ve quietly lived by for years, running Colombo Fashion Week, and through co-founding our literary and arts festival.

I’ve never thought of giving as a strategy. It’s simply what you do when you’re in a position to open doors. For a young designer who has the talent but not the platform or the guidance, a writer who needs a stage or to find a voice, a girl who just needs to see someone who looks like her leading something, or making things.

What I’ve gained in return isn’t influence or recognition. It’s the quality of work that surrounds me, the trust people place in what we build together.

What we gain is a society that’s empowered to voice our culture. Resonate with our people, creating identity and a future, and the quiet confidence that comes from watching others grow.

Leadership, to me, has always been about making yourself less necessary over time, not more. It is a true indication that ur doing something right.

That’s the gain worth working for.
Fazeena Rajabdeen
Co-Founder and Director
Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival

"'Give to Gain' is not about self-sacrifice. It is about power used wisely. As a woman, a single mother, and a corporate leader, I have learned that giving is not a weakness. It is positioning. When you give access, insight, opportunity, and confidence to others, you expand the room you stand in.

We give before we are fully ready.
We give even when we are being tested.
We give without shrinking.

And over time, that giving builds authority that cannot be manufactured. It builds trust. It builds credibility. It builds resilience.

In a world driven by speed, disruption, and AI, generosity may seem counterintuitive. Yet progress accelerates when knowledge is share,d and doors are held open.

The true gain is not status. It is influence with integrity. It is seeing other women rise without apology.

That is the kind of gain worth building."

Sanjini Munaweera

"The theme for International Women's Day "Give to Gain" is indeed commendable and timely. In our country, many young girl,s particularly from economically oppressed backgrounds, come to a standstill in their lives if they don't get through their GCE Ordinary Level examination.

Such girls then opt for low-paying jobs without clear career advancement in sectors such as the garment industry, agriculture, and other types of manufacturing, etc.

Ideally, opportunities should be provided for young females to obtain vocational training free of charge in areas such as pastry and bakery, beauty culture, cookery, dressmaking, etc., even though they don't possess GCE O/L qualifications, in consonance with the theme "Give to Gain".

Recently, a leading Sri Lankan conglomerate involved in the export sector has introduced a training program at zero cost to the participants, leading to a recognized vocational qualification (NVQ Level 3 certificate) in cookery, as well as pastry and bakery. This will no doubt provide a viable career path for young girls in the Hospitality Industry, both locally and in hotels and restaurants overseas.

I feel that the initiative taken by this leading Corporate is admirable. Other corporate bodies should emulate this model to empower young females from downtrodden families. If you Educate a Girl you Educate a Nation.

Harshini Nadesan

"‘Give to Gain’ speaks deeply on my Journey as a woman Entrepreneur, and a Believer in collective Growth. It is not about Transaction- it is about transformation. Professionally, I have seen how Collaboration multiplies impact. When women support women, we accelerate Progress. We normalize leadership, ambition, and financial independence.

Personally, giving has taught me abundance, as ‘give to gain’ is a reminder that empowerment multiplies. When one woman rises, she does not rise alone — she lifts generations.

In my professional life, especially within the gem and Jewellery industry, where women are still carving space, I have learned that generosity builds Legacy.

Personally, the theme reminds me that abundance begins with contribution. The more we invest in uplifting one another, the richer we become — not just in success, but in purpose. True empowerment grows when women rise together.

As the Founder of Saheli Creatives, I have learned that every time I give — whether it is knowledge, opportunity, mentorship, or even encouragement — I receive something far greater in return. When women support other women, we do not lose power- we multiply it.

In my personal journey, giving has meant showing up authentically, sharing lessons from both success and failure, to create spaces where women feel seen and heard.

In my professional life, it means investing in the youth, the artisans, and the entrepreneurs so they can step into their own confidence and independence. True empowerment is not competition — it is contribution. Empowered women empower women — and that is the greatest gain of all."

Kanusha Nanayakkara
Founder
Saheli Creatives

"To me, “Give to Gain” reflects something deeply woven into the lives of women. From a young age, many of us learn to give; our time, our strength, our patience, our encouragement-often quietly and without expectation. It is part of how we nurture growth around us.

Coming from a corporate governance leadership role and now working closely with young professionals preparing to enter the workplace, I have seen firsthand how a simple act of guidance or belief can change the trajectory of confidence. When we give knowledge, we ignite possibility. When we give guidance, we build confidence. When we give space for others to grow, we create futures stronger than our own.

International Women’s Day reminds us that giving is not weakness; it is power. When women give with intention and heart, we do not diminish ourselves, we expand our impact and create lasting change."
Thushanee Ilangakoon

"The theme 'Give to gain' reminds me of my favourite scripture verse, Luke 6:38: 'Give and it shall be given unto you pressed down shaken together & running over”. Something I’ve seen my Mum do, followed by my sisters and me. To me, it means to take the initiative to be a giver, and it will always come back to you “pressed down shaken together & running over.”

My best friend Nicky Melder Ziard taught me to discreetly pay the bill of a stranger, cos it’s like giving upfront to gain later. So many times, unknown to the person in line in front of me, I’ve signaled the cashier and paid their bill anonymously. Many times this has reciprocated blessings to me in many other ways. It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Druvi Tara Gunasekara
Boutiques in Sri Lanka

"My career path has been multi-faceted, and the women in my life—friends, colleagues, mentors—have come from varied backgrounds. Yet a common thread binds them to me: they have always been quick to give—time, wisdom, encouragement, and strength. Through their giving, I have journeyed across four decades of my career with resilience, confidence, and courage. Add to this an amazingly supportive family who have always given so I could gain, and the quintessence of Give to Gain is evident in every nuance of my life.

When one woman extends a hand, another rises. Repeated, this act becomes a chain of empowerment stretching across the globe. Each gesture builds a truss—a strong, unshakable framework—that holds us when challenges weigh heavily, supports us when we falter, and carries us when the road feels steep.

For women everywhere, this collective giving is vital. By lifting each other, we ensure no woman stands alone."

Savithri Rodrigo
Journalist/Author/Media Consultant