The representation and portrayal of women in mass media in Sri Lanka is widely acknowledged as a factor that serves to perpetuate their subordinate status. Gender-based stereotypes in the media and in school texts have attracted the attention of academics and practitioners and led to a number of calls for the creation of guidelines and self-regulatory frameworks to prevent the presentation of negative images of women, and of gender relations, in the media.

Since its inception the Women and Media Collective has been using the media as a channel to create awareness and acceptance of gender equality in society, through the publishing of print material, radio and television programmes, the arts and the film industry.

Our focus has also been on critically examining the representation and portrayal of women in Sri Lankan mainstream media in all three languages.