Dialog’s Yeheli/Thozhi Relaunches Website, Continuing to Empower Women in Sri Lanka

Left to right – Lasantha Theverapperuma - Group Chief Operating Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC. Ashani Senaratne – General Manager, Group Marketing, Dialog Axiata PLC. Sandra De Zoysa – Group Chief Customer Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC. Rekha Weerasooriya – Vice President, HR Transformation – Group Corporate Development, Dialog Axiata PLC. Asanga Priyadarshana - Group Chief of Risk and Compliance and Head of Sustainability, Dialog Axiata PLC.

Yeheli/Thozhi (in Tamil), Sri Lanka's first trilingual and free advisory platform by Dialog Axiata PLC, announced the relaunch of its website, Yeheli.lk/Thozhi.lk, acting as a beacon for women's empowerment through interactive and anonymous guidance.

In response to critical societal issues including, gender-based violence, employment discrimination, underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, lack of access to mental health care, Yeheli/Thozhi was established to provide vital support, especially the pressing need for accessible mental health care. In line with this mission, Yeheli/Thozhi offers personalized, anonymous, and interactive advisory services in partnership with Women in Need, Without Borders Sri Lanka, Doc 990, and Hithawathi: a project funded by LK Domain Registry.

This free platform has supported over 500,000 users to date and continues to provide a secure space for women to engage with qualified virtual advisors, addressing sensitive topics such as abuse, sexual health, contraceptives, relationship issues, and domestic violence. Users simply need to create a profile by registering with their mobile number to commence anonymously submitting questions, where these queries will be addressed by the respective experts within 48-hours.

Commenting, Asanga Priyadarshana - Group Chief of Risk and Compliance and Head of Sustainability of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “Yeheli/Thozhi serves as a vital beacon for women's empowerment, providing a safe space to address sensitive topics. As we strive to address critical societal challenges, Yeheli/Thozhi remains committed to supporting women and empowering them to further strengthen their contribution to the economy. Further, this relaunch denotes a significant step forward in our mission to create a more inclusive and informed society".

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, Yeheli/Thozhi was conceptualised from a 2017 GSMA-supported research initiative by Dialog, highlighting the need to bridge the gap in addressing and spreading awareness on taboo subjects. Yeheli/Thozhi acts as a digital intervention platform, empowering women to overcome cultural norms and enhancing their lives through internet usage. The relaunch marks a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and informed society.

More information on Yeheli/Thozhi can be accessed via – https://yeheli.lk/