In the post-conflict narrative, there are stories that are glossed over, or never told. When thinking of the aftermath of Sri Lanka's war, most eyes, particularly those of the English mainstream media, turn to Jaffna.
Recognising this, Groundviews travelled to Mullaitivu and Mannar, areas that remain underreported, and
found many women who received almost no help from the state.
The women interviewed have faced first, the horrors of war, and then numerous other issues – from bureaucracy to stigma, to outright violence and abandonment. Yet they also displayed immense courage in the face of these difficulties. These narratives of extraordinary resilience and resourcefulness rarely make the news.
The names of the women interviewed and their locations have been withheld to respect their privacy and safety. These are their stories.
As these stories illustrate, the issues facing female-headed households in Mannar and Mullaitivu are complex and varied. Alleviating these issues requires not just consistent state support in the form of funding for development, but also consistent funding for psychosocial services, and a shift in culture and mindset. Many of those interviewed did not feel the state would ever help them out of their plight. Yet, the resilience they displayed in the face of violence is inspiring. One in four households are female-headed, according to census data - and, still as these interviews illustrate, many single parent households receive only the most sparing support.
