UWSSL

Unity for Women's Safety
Sri Lanka

A grassroots organisation dedicated to empowering women through legal awareness, safety education, and community solidarity — founded in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Follow on Facebook Our Mission

UWSSL

Unity for Women's Safety

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

2022

Founded

Sri Lanka

NGO

Organisation

About UWSSL

Standing Together for
Safer Communities

UWSSL (Unity for Women's Safety Sri Lanka) is a community-driven organisation founded to bridge the gap between women in need and the legal, social, and emotional support they deserve.

⚖️

Legal Empowerment

Providing women with knowledge of their legal rights under Sri Lankan law — including domestic violence protections, property rights, and access to legal remedies — so they can take informed action.

🛡️

Safety & Protection

Running awareness campaigns and workshops that equip women and communities with practical tools to recognise, report, and escape unsafe situations and gender-based violence.

🤝

Community Unity

Building solidarity networks between women, legal professionals, NGOs, and law enforcement to create sustainable safety infrastructure at the grassroots level in Sri Lanka.

Our Work

What We Do

UWSSL works across multiple areas to support and protect women across Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on the Eastern Province.

📋

Legal Rights Awareness

Community education sessions on the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, maintenance rights, land rights, and access to emergency court orders for women in danger.

📣

Advocacy & Outreach

Public campaigns, social media awareness drives, and community events that shift attitudes toward gender-based violence and promote a culture of zero tolerance.

🆘

Support Coordination

Connecting vulnerable women with legal aid, counselling services, shelters, and government welfare mechanisms through UWSSL's referral network.

🎓

Youth Education

Engaging schools and universities on consent, gender equality, and women's rights — building the next generation of advocates for a safer Sri Lanka.

Our Impact & Focus

Primary Region Eastern Province

Country Sri Lanka

Focus Gender-Based Violence

Language Tamil · English · Sinhala

Type Community NGO

Focus Areas

Core Areas of Action

UWSSL addresses women's safety from multiple angles — legal, social, digital, and emotional.

🏛️

Domestic Violence

Educating survivors on legal remedies, interim orders, and safety planning under Sri Lankan domestic violence law.

💻

Online Safety

Raising awareness of cyber harassment, digital privacy rights, and how to report online abuse to authorities.

👩‍⚖️

Access to Justice

Helping women navigate the legal system, find pro bono legal aid, and understand their rights in court.

💜

Mental Health

Connecting survivors with counselling resources and trauma support as part of a holistic recovery approach.

👩‍👧

Child Protection

Supporting mothers and children in unsafe home environments through referrals and legal guidance.

🌐

Community Networks

Building local support circles of trusted women, legal professionals, and community leaders.

📚

Legal Literacy

Plain-language guides to Sri Lankan family law, maintenance, and protection orders for women without legal backgrounds.

🤲

Pro Bono Legal Aid

Coordinating with attorneys to provide free or subsidised legal advice to women who cannot afford representation.

Leadership

Meet the Founder

Cynthia Suhesan

Founder & CEO · UWSSL

Attorney-at-Law LLB LLM (Reading) Notary Public Commissioner for Oaths

Connect on LinkedIn

View Full Portfolio →

"Every woman deserves to feel safe, to know her rights, and to have someone stand beside her when the system feels overwhelming. UWSSL exists to be that presence."

Cynthia Suhesan is a qualified Attorney-at-Law based in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, and the Founder & CEO of Unity for Women's Safety Sri Lanka. She holds an LLB from the University of Colombo and is currently reading for her LLM in Criminal Justice Administration at the Open University of Sri Lanka.

With her background spanning civil and criminal litigation, legal drafting, and corporate compliance, Cynthia established UWSSL to address a critical gap she witnessed in her legal practice — women in vulnerable situations who lacked access to legal information, support networks, and justice.

Educated entirely in English medium and trilingual in English, Tamil, and Sinhala, Cynthia is uniquely positioned to serve the diverse communities of Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. She is currently preparing to relocate to London in 2026 to continue her legal career in the UK while supporting UWSSL's ongoing mission remotely.

Criminal Justice Women's Rights Law Civil Litigation Community Leadership Legal Aid Gender-Based Violence Law Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

Unity for Women's SafetySri Lanka