Sivarasa Maria Rosary

Empowering Women, One Thread at a Time

For over 25 years, Sivarasa Maria Rosary has been a pillar of strength and leadership in Anaikottai, Jaffna. Her journey with the Viluthu Development Association shaped her not only as a skilled entrepreneur but also as a committed community leader. Through countless trainings, field visits, and empowerment programs, she grew into roles such as Treasurer of Sanjeevi, Chairperson of the Jaffna District Samasat, and Pradeshiya Sabha member, positions that deepened her dedication to uplifting women around her. [1210]

Her entrepreneurial path began humbly with training in door mat production. Initially crafting and selling from home, she soon joined forces with nine other women to form a village-level group, nurtured by support from a private company. Together, they pushed the craft forward, even expanding their reach to foreign markets. But just as momentum grew, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic hardships forced production to pause. [1206,1207]

Undeterred, Rosary and her group revived the business with renewed energy seven years ago, navigating challenges such as limited raw materials, costly dyes and wax imported from Colombo, and difficulties in marketing their woven goods. Despite high demand, matching orders that require many identical pieces has proven difficult, and financial constraints have slowed scaling efforts. [1200]

Their products, door mats and Bhatik, are sold on the Sanjeevi platform, where door mats bring steady income, though bhatik sales lag behind. To overcome these hurdles, Rosary plans to acquire more raw materials and bring more women entrepreneurs into the fold, envisioning a thriving cooperative that supports women-headed households and those living in poverty. [1224, 1226]

For Rosary, this journey is about far more than business. She reflects on how the need to support her husband’s and children’s education pushed her beyond the familiar boundaries of home. What began as necessity blossomed into a mission to inspire other women to find their own strength and independence.

“Our goal is to build a large, sustainable enterprise that not only profits but creates opportunities for women in our villages,” she says. “Women must fulfill their needs with dignity and perseverance. Even if a husband works in a government job, a woman can run a small business from home. Especially now, with rising costs, entrepreneurship empowers us to meet daily needs and support our families.”