Promoting Gender Equity in Elections: A Comparative Analysis of Strategies and Impacts on The Population Attitudes in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lankan women hold only 5.3% of parliamentary seats despite comprising over half of the electorate, highlighting persistent gender inequities in political representation. This study investigates the effectiveness of a 25% statutory quota for women in local government elections, complemented by leadership training programs and media campaigns, in promoting gender equity. The objectives are: (a) to assess the impact of quotas and interventions on increasing women’s electoral representation, and (b) to examine shifts in public attitudes toward female political leadership. A quasiexperimental mixedmethods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 200 respondents, stratified by gender, age, and urban/rural location across three districts, with pre and post quota attitudes analyzed using paired t-tests, chisquared tests, and effect size calculations. Qualitative insights were obtained from 20 semistructured interviews with women councillors, party leaders, and advocacy organizations. Official election records were analyzed to document changes in women’s representation, providing robust triangulation of results.