Colombo In a historic recognition of women-led agriculture, Sri Lanka’s Manel Jayasinghe has been selected among the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development, a prestigious global initiative celebrating exceptional women transforming farming, food security, and rural livelihoods.
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The honour places Jayasinghe, a community leader and champion of rural women’s empowerment, alongside 100 women chosen from 609 nominations submitted by 131 FAO Member countries.
FAO launched the 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development initiative to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. It recognises women whose work has strengthened agriculture, expanded market access, protected natural resources, preserved traditional knowledge, and created jobs and training opportunities in rural communities.
The selection process was deliberately rigorous: nominations were checked for eligibility and country quotas, ranked by FAO senior management, shortlisted through leadership deliberations, and finally approved by the Senior Leadership Committee.
Manel Jayasinghe is a community leader and advocate for rural women’s empowerment in Sri Lanka who actively leads the Arunodaya Women Farmers’ Society. Through her work, she supports women farmers in strengthening their agricultural activities, improving livelihoods, and increasing their participation in community development and decision-making processes.
Her leadership has helped foster cooperation among rural women, promote sustainable farming practices, and create opportunities for greater economic and social inclusion within her community.
For Sri Lanka, Jayasinghe’s inclusion is more than a personal achievement, it is a powerful international endorsement of the role rural women play in feeding communities and shaping resilient food systems.News First
