Saroja Sivachandran

'''Saroja Sivachandran''' is a Sri Lankan women's rights advocate and the executive director of the Centre for Women and Development (CWD) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. She has been instrumental in addressing women's issues, promoting gender equality, and supporting community development in the post-war Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Her work spans over 30 years, from local initiatives in Jaffna to international advocacy.

Early Life and Education

Saroja Sivachandran was born in Sri Lanka and is of Tamil origin. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Peradeniya and has also earned a Master of Arts (M.A.). She resides in Jaffna Town, Sri Lanka.

Career

Saroja Sivachandran founded and leads the Centre for Women and Development, a non-profit organization established in 1988 and registered under the NGO Secretariat in Colombo. The organization focuses on women's rights, capacity building, and empowerment, particularly in the aftermath of Sri Lanka's civil war. She has built strong connections with national and international women's organizations and maintains good rapport with government officials.

Sivachandran has been actively involved in advocacy on issues affecting women in northern Sri Lanka, including the challenges faced by female-headed households, the mental health impacts on families of missing persons, and the role of women as primary breadwinners in post-conflict communities. She has highlighted how many programs overlook the unique roles and needs of women in these regions. Her books and articles on women's issues have been translated into Sinhala and Tamil.

Internationally, she has represented Sri Lankan women's issues on global platforms. In 1995, despite displacement from Jaffna, she participated in the Beijing World Conference on Women. In 2017, she delivered a talk at a United Nations session in Geneva on "Women's and Minority Rights in Sri Lanka's Transitional Justice Process." She was elected as a bureau member of the South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) network from Sri Lanka. Her work has been recognized for its contributions to gender equality, with her journey from Jaffna to international stages spanning over 30 years.

Personal Life

Saroja Sivachandran is married to R. Sivachandran, a retired academic from the University of Jaffna. They have two children: Yalini Aravinthan (née Sivachandran), a dentist and owner of YaSmiles Dental Clinic in Canada, and Sivachandran Bharathi, a lead software engineer at Giesecke+Devrient.

References for Saroja Sivachandran

Below is a compiled list of references used or relevant to the biography, mapped to the citation IDs from the article. These are drawn from verified sources like official profiles, reports, and publications. I've included key details for each:

  1. [0] Ten for Tamils - Author: Saroja Sivachandran. Discusses her role in women's development and her 30+ years of advocacy.URL: https://tenfortamils.au/author/saroja
  2. [1] LinkedIn Profile: Saroja Sivachandran - Executive Director at Centre for Women & Development. Covers her professional experience and education.URL: https://lk.linkedin.com/in/saroja-sivachandran-99250132
  3. [2] UNFPA Sri Lanka Facebook Post: 30 years on, Saroja Sivachandran's journey from Jaffna to the global stage. Highlights her advocacy in women's rights and civil movements.URL: https://www.facebook.com/UNFPASriLanka/posts/30-years-on-saroja-sivachandrans-journey-from-jaffna-to-the-global-stage-reminds/1102624991906731
  4. [3] CWD Jaffna Facebook Post: Saroja Sivachandran elected as Bureau Member of SAHR. Notes her election to South Asians for Human Rights.URL: https://www.facebook.com/cwdjaffna/posts/saroja-sivachandran-has-been-elected-as-one-of-the-bureau-members-of-south-asian/1509937325726094
  5. [4] LinkedIn Profile: Saroja Sivachandran - NGO at Center for Young Womens Development. Additional professional details.URL: https://lk.linkedin.com/in/saroja-sivachandran-4509b6148
  6. [5] ICAN Peacework: Open Statement to the United Nations Security Council. Mentions her in the context of women peacebuilders.URL: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/10/open-statement-to-the-unsc-from-women-peacebuilders
  7. [6] Sri Lanka Two Blog: Women's and Minority Rights in Sri Lanka's Transitional Justice Process. Discusses her UN talk in Geneva.URL: https://srilankatwo.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/womens-and-minority-rights-in-sri-lankas-transitional-justice-process
  8. [7] Colombo Telegraph: Engagement In North Brings Encouraging Results. References her work with women's groups in Jaffna.URL: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/engagement-in-north-brings-encouraging-results
  9. [8] Ten for Tamils: Our Story. Details her founding of CWD and focus on marginalized women.URL: https://tenfortamils.au/about-us
  10. [9] IMADR: Busybody for Peace - The Life and Work of Nimalka Fernando. Contextual mention in women's rights networks.URL: https://imadr.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/University-of-San-Diego_BUSYBODY-FOR-PEACE_Nimalka-Fernando_Sri-Lanka.pdf
  11. [10] GUPEA: Roles of Women During Armed Conflict. Interview excerpts on her advocacy.URL: https://gupea.ub.gu.se/server/api/core/bitstreams/f9e198b4-ff6b-4bd8-a4e3-1ec6907d32d7/content
  12. [11] South Asians for Human Rights: Triennial Report. Covers her involvement in SAHR activities.URL: https://southasianrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SAHR_Annual_Report_9.pdf
  13. [12] Thuppahis: From Bio-tale and Anecdote to Issues of Housing and Ethnic Rapprochement in the North. Quotes her on community interactions.URL: https://thuppahis.com/2012/11/15/from-bio-tale-and-anecdote-to-issues-of-housing-and-ethnic-rapprochement-in-the-north
  14. [13] OHCHR: National Action Plan. Lists her in consultations for women's rights.URL: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/NHRA/NPASriLanka2011_2016.pdf
  15. [14] JDS Lanka Blog: Saturday, May 14, 2011. Mentions her directorial role and reports.URL: http://jdsrilanka.blogspot.com/2011_05_14_archive.html