Cook Malithi Prabhani, second left, and her colleagues prepare lunch for guests at the Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)2025-03-08T05:29:25Z DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) After leaving school, Jeewanthi Adikari was determined to pursue her studies in accounting. But her life took a different path when she began a three-month training program in hospitality.She has since worked in different hotels throughout a career spanning over two decades. Now 42, she is in charge of Sri Lankas first resort fully operated and managed by women. Its an attempt to address gender disparities in a male-dominated tourism sector crucial for the countrys economic recovery after a major crisis. This is a place where women can realise their potential. They will not be inside the shell. Instead, they will come out and try to perform better, said Adikari, who oversees the daily operations of Amba Yaalu, a resort located in Dambulla city that serves as a gateway to most of Sri Lankas tourist attractions. Resort manager Jeewanthi Adikari, center, attends a management meeting with the staff of Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Resort manager Jeewanthi Adikari, center, attends a management meeting with the staff of Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Housekeeping staff arrange a bed at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Housekeeping staff arrange a bed at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More A maintenance staff member carries a ladder at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) A maintenance staff member carries a ladder at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Most Sri Lankan women dont get a chance to work in the tourism industry, earn money and own a career. In a country where 52% of the 22 million people are women, they account for only about 10% of the 200,000-strong workforce in the hospitality sector. Amba Yaalu wants to be the driver of change Some 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Colombo, the resort is nestled in a mango plantation and all work is managed by 75 women staff who garden, work in the kitchens, clean the facility, address the guests and provide security in the form of seven ex-military members. The resorts facilities also include training programs for women to develop their skills in different areas of hospitality. The resort opened in January and has been seen as a move unlocking womens potential and driving the tourism economy in the debt-stricken nation. The idea was conceived by seasoned hotelier Chandra Wickramasinghe, who said he was inspired by the power of women, especially that of his mother who raised him and his seven siblings as a single parent. Staff members of Amba Yaalu resort walk by the pool after a meeting in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Staff members of Amba Yaalu resort walk by the pool after a meeting in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Receptionist Dilani smiles as at work at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Receptionist Dilani smiles as at work at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Technician Sandali Ratnayake fixes electric lights during daily maintenance work at the Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Technician Sandali Ratnayake fixes electric lights during daily maintenance work at the Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More I knew what these ladies can do. I got the idea and put my team to work on it. We got a strong team to run it and it worked very well, said Wickramasinghe, adding that the resort would enable women to thrive as leaders.Social stigma, language barrier, work-life balance, lack of training facilities and low salaries have long kept the majority of Sri Lankan women away from the hospitality industry, especially those in the rural areas, said Suranga Silva, professor of tourism economics in the University of Colombo.Much of this stems from a patriarchal structure and traditional gender roles deeply embedded in Sri Lankas society, even though many women have made their mark in the countrys politics and have held key positions in the government. The island nations current prime minister, Harini Amarasuriya, is a woman.Tourism industry cant be isolated from women, said Silva, adding that womens employment in Sri Lankas tourism is very low compared to the global and regional levels. Nawodya, a stewardess at Amba Yaalu resort attends to guests at a restaurant in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Nawodya, a stewardess at Amba Yaalu resort attends to guests at a restaurant in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More An employee dusts the living area at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) An employee dusts the living area at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Lack of women professionals Sri Lankas tourism and hospitality sector contributed 2.3% to the countrys economy in 2023 down from 5% in 2018 and the industry has traditionally been the countrys third largest foreign exchange earner. But the shortage of skilled women and some of them leaving jobs after getting married have been challenges faced by the industry since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and the coronavirus pandemic.Kaushalya Batagoda, the executive chef at the resort, said the industry faces a shortage of female professionals to serve in the kitchen and as a result, most staff recruited to the resorts kitchen were rookies still in training.But, the new generation has a passion for working in the kitchen, she said, adding that she gets a lot of applications from women. Executive chef Kaushalya Batagoda, center, and her team pose for a photograph at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Executive chef Kaushalya Batagoda, center, and her team pose for a photograph at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Executive chef Kaushalya Batagoda, left, interviews a prospective employee at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Executive chef Kaushalya Batagoda, left, interviews a prospective employee at Amba Yaalu resort in the Kandalama locality in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The resort has been lauded by womens rights activists who have long been concerned about limited career choices for women in Sri Lanka.Activist Sepali Kottegoda said such business enterprises can open up more safe employment opportunities for women. Silva, the professor, said that a dramatic change is taking place as more young women are eager to join the industry, but suggested that the government and the sector must jointly provide training programs for women to improve their skills and employability. At Amba Yaalu resort, some of these concerns are already being tackled.This is purely to empower women, Adikari said. We invite women to come and join us, see whether they can perform better in the career, sharpen their capacities and skills and contribute to the industry. The all-female staff of Amba Yaalu resort cheers as they pose for a photograph in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) The all-female staff of Amba Yaalu resort cheers as they pose for a photograph in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More