What works in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has implemented several notable development initiatives with mixed sustainability outcomes. A 25% women's quota in local government elections achieved a dramatic initial gain, raising women's representation from under 2% to roughly 23% in the 2018 elections (~2,000 women elected), though compliance weakened to ~11% by 2025 due to legal loopholes. The Nenasala telecentre network expanded rural ICT access to nearly 1,000 centres by 2014, helping raise national computer literacy from below 10% to almost 40%, but contracted to just 46 centres by 2024, reflecting sustainability challenges. The country has also invested in technology-driven solutions like Pubudu, a deep-learning app for screening learning disabilities, and community-based reforestation to reconnect rainforest reserves, though evidence of their long-term scale and impact remains limited.