A grassroots campaign was conducted in seven districts to promote women’s political representation in parliamentary elections under the second phase of NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project in Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa. The campaign aimed to inform voters about the importance of electing female candidates and encourage inclusive political representation. It included the distribution of 7,000 informational leaflets and 3,500 awareness stickers that explained the importance of electing women to support transparent and accountable governance.

Community feedback showed differences in opinions and challenges across districts. In Nuwara Eliya, men from the community supported the campaign. One participant stated that the initiative encouraged him to advocate for women’s leadership and he helped to distribute stickers and leaflets. In Badulla, community members already supported female candidates and used the campaign materials to increase awareness. In Matara, participants wanted more representation of women in parliament, pointing to social issues such as domestic violence as key concerns. One woman explained that political representation was necessary to address these issues. In Kegalle, there was limited awareness of female candidates in the district. A female government official revealed that the campaign materials influenced her to support women candidates and spread the message among her colleagues. In Kandy, voters prioritised merit-based selection of candidates, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

The campaign highlighted differences in awareness and attitudes toward women’s political participation across districts. Some areas such as Matara showed strong support for women leaders while others such as Kegalle had gaps in awareness. In Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, the active involvement of local women in campaign activities showed potential for these areas to promote women’s political leadership. Challenges such as gender biases and the limited visibility of female candidates in some areas remain significant barriers.

By engaging voters during the election period, the campaign aligned with public discussions about politics. It influenced community awareness and voter decisions by addressing gaps in information and creating discussions on women’s political representation. It also contributed to efforts to reduce divisions across ethnic and religious lines.