- The Sri Lanka women population represents over 51% of the total population and out of them a considerable number had become widows owing to the conflict situation prevailed during the past and also household heads as a result. The proposal made by the Minister of Women's Affairs, K.D.M. Chandrani Bandara, to implement an expeditious programme for empowering widows and women household heads economically and socially, in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vauniya, Mulativu, Ampara, Trincomallee, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa where such women are more prevalent, was approved by the Cabinet.