New national desk opens to strengthen care organizing in Sri Lanka

A new national desk aimed at strengthening care organizing in Sri Lanka was inaugurated during a ceremony officiated by UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary Rajendra Acharya on July 10, 2025. The event took place at the Government Midwifery Service Association (GMSA) in Narahenpita, Colombo.

The newly established space within the GMSA premises will serve as an operational hub for UNI Care's outreach and coordination activities. This initiative is part of UNI Asia & Pacific’s South Asia network, which was launched earlier in 2025 to support the Community Health Workers movement across the region. The network emphasizes women-led organizing and advocacy for labor reforms.

Regional Secretary Acharya praised GMSA’s leadership and highlighted UNI’s dedication to supporting union structures in Sri Lanka's care sector. “We see this as an important step forward to support our affiliates in strengthening union structures in the care sector to defend workers’ rights, dignity, and decent work for all health workers,” he stated.