Nearly 1 million schoolgirls across 6,108 schools benefit from the Government-backed initiative, with Fems supporting the programme since inception
For many schoolgirls across Sri Lanka, managing their periods with dignity remains an uphill task, not simply because sanitary products are hard to afford, but because of the layers of silence, stigma and gaps in information that surround menstruation. Limited awareness of menstrual health, discomfort discussing periods openly at home or in school, and a lack of proper facilities to dispose of sanitary waste all compound the challenge, often pushing girls to miss school or manage their periods unsafely.
Fems, a leading feminine hygiene brand under Hemas Consumer Brands, have been working alongside government stakeholders to chip away at these barriers, not just through a single intervention, but through a combination of access, education and infrastructure, including Thilinapath, a government-led initiative launched by the Ministry of Education in June 2024 to provide free sanitary napkins to schoolgirls in Grade 6 and above. The programme now reaches close to one million students across 6,108 government and government-assisted special schools islandwide, with Fems on board as a key brand partner since its inception, giving schoolgirls the freedom to redeem their entitlement for the product and variant of their choice at their school premises.
“Thilinapath is a government supported Initiative to strengthen access for sanitary napkins to school girls, and being part of it from the outset has allowed us to reach schoolgirls with a full year's supply of pads at no cost to them, while giving them the independence to choose their preferred brand and variant,” said Sachini Gamage, General Manager, Marketing, Hemas Consumer Brands.
But access to products is only one part of the picture. Fems has also worked to close gaps in menstrual health knowledge through the “Api Katha Karamu” (Let’s Talk) Menstrual Health and Hygiene Education Programme, a school-level initiative that brings qualified medical professionals into classrooms to speak openly with schoolgirls about menstrual health, hygiene practices and period management. Since 2021, the programme has reached more than 250,000 schoolgirls around the island, helping normalise conversations that are often considered taboo and equipping girls with accurate, practical information.
Fems has also turned its attention to a part of the menstrual health journey that is rarely spoken about, safe and dignified disposal. Many schools lack any proper system for disposing of sanitary waste, leaving girls without a hygienic or private way to do so. Through the Purple Bin project, carried out with the guidance of the Central Environmental Authority, Fems has helped introduce dedicated collection bins in schools, paired with awareness sessions on their correct use. The bins are serviced by Sisili Hanaro Encare, an approved waste management operator that runs Sri Lanka’s largest centralised clinical waste management facility, ensuring that everything collected is disposed in an environment-friendly manner.
Taken together, these efforts reflect a broader approach looking beyond the cost of a pack of pads to the education, awareness, access and disposal infrastructure schoolgirls need to manage their periods with confidence and dignity. For Fems, Thilinapath remains a key contribution to its broader commitment to advancing menstrual health and hygiene, alongside the Ministry of Education and other government stakeholders, to improve access, awareness, and menstrual health outcomes for schoolgirls across Sri Lanka.
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