From left: S.B. Dissanayake, Chairperson, National Committee on Women, State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Champa Upasena, Director- Women’s Bureau of Sri Lanka, Kumari Jayasekara, Secretary, State Ministry of Women and Child Development, State Minister of Women and Child Development, Piyal Nishantha de Silva, Shanthi Bhagirathan, Group Director, Capital Maharaja Group, Suranga Jayalath, Group Director, Capital Maharaja Group.

Sri Lanka’s leading feminine hygiene brand, Eva, together with the State Ministry of Women and Child Development recently launched the 2nd phase of the ‘Diyaniya’ initiative, in view of the International Women’s Day. 

Based on a concept by State Minister Piyal Nishantha, ‘Diyaniya’ initiative was first introduced in 2021 to raise awareness related to feminine health and menstrual hygiene. 

Under ‘Diyaniya’ initiative, in 2022, Eva will reach out to 250 schools across the country, providing infrastructure including sanitary napkins, other hygiene products and essentials. 

The brand as part of the initiative will also visit each of these schools to conduct special workshops on feminine/menstrual hygiene with the support of trained professionals, ensuring that young students have the ability, knowledge and means to practice good feminine hygiene, aiming to improve their overall health and wellbeing. And access to good quality products. 

Speaking at the media conference, State Minister, Piyal Nishantha de Silva expressed his views on this initiative.
‘’We conceptualized the ‘Diyaniya’ initiative to meet the government’s objective of providing free and easy access to the means of fulfilling sanitary needs, for female school students around the country. It is my great pleasure to see the project successfully rolling out for the second consecutive year, thanks to the support of Eva,” he said.
Commenting of the effort, Suranga Jayalath, Group Director, Capital Maharaja Group said that as an organization that places great importance on the empowerment of women, we have always extended unwavering support to the cause at all times.

“The project takes a holistic approach to empowering women by fulfilling the needs of the girl child and normalizing knowledge on feminine hygiene. We believe this will contribute positively to the lives of many thousands of school children around the country, especially those from rural areas,’’ he added.

Shanthi Bhagirathan, Group Director, Capital Maharaja Group added that as a responsible corporate, the group believes in its people and in empowering them as a nation to move forward.  

“Education is power which gives confident. Education is also giving voice to our children and with this program to girl children in particular. We see this initiative as part of a process leading on Gender equality - which is important for survival and for making change for sustainable growth,” she said.