Hotline
Reach out through our hotline at 077 441 061 76 to book an appointment or talk to us in case of an emergency!
Our Working Hours
We're available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. You can also meet us through a physical consultation on Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Our Support Team
In 2021, Sisterhood Initiative launched our Support Team for Muslim women who needed legal counsel and psychosocial support. Since then, we have taken over a hundred cases, covering every aspect of personal family laws for Muslim women in Sri Lanka, with no cost whatsoever. We also handle cases of reporting online violence and harassment by safely referring them for removal off social media platforms.
While the Support Team has mostly operated online, we are now handling cases in a physical space, meeting women in a safe and discreet environment to ensure they receive the best support they can. In person meetings will take place depending on our availability. Please scroll below for more details on how you can book an appointment.
What are the services we provide?
- Legal counseling and psychosocial support for women who are affected under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act.
- Confidential one-to-ones that ensure privacy throughout the sessions.
- Our services are designed to be respectful of everyone’s time and energy, while being mindful of every individual’s situation.
What type of issues can we help with?
- Legal issues related to the MMDA
- Basic information on women’s legal rights under the MMDA
- Marriage Registration
- Divorce Procedure
- Child Custody
- Child Maintenance
- Property Settlement
Psychosocial Support
We provide individual counselling, creating safe spaces for women to feel heard and empowered. We use a trauma informed approach, especially in instances of domestic abuse and divorce trauma.
Upon request, Sisterhood Initiative also has the ability to refer individuals to other mental health services and providers, by reaching out to our extensive network of practitioners across Sri Lanka.
You can have a look at our referrals here.
How Do I Reach Out To The Support Team?
Sisterhood Initiative’s Support Team offers free consultations, three days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM (Sri Lankan time). Our services are open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach out to us through our Hotline or social media.
Hotline
- STEP ONE: Contact our Hotline at 077 441 061 76. Please drop a call or text through Local services or Whatsapp.
- STEP TWO: Our hotline operator will reach out and coordinate with you to schedule a call. The call will take place at a time convenient to your schedule and the Support Team members.
- STEP THREE: The team will provide follow up calls to assess your situation and provide any more support and information.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- STEP ONE: You can reach out to us through our social media on Instagram, Facebook and X.
- STEP TWO: A member of the Communications team will reach out to you to get relevant information regarding your situation. We will then refer you to our Support Team.
- STEP THREE: The team will provide follow up calls to assess your situation and provide any more support and information.
Physical Consultations
- Typical work hours are Saturdays between 10.00 AM – 3.00 PM.
- Can be scheduled according to request and availability.
- Location will be shared privately through consultation.
Immediate Assistance
In case of an emergency, you can reach out through our Hotline and get in contact with our Support Team. The team will provide service accordingly.
We provide:
- Safe and Non-judgmental spaces for women.
- Undivided attention and long term support
- Awareness on the impact of mental health in the context of MMDA.
We can also provide referrals to other mental health service providers upon request.
Please note that with our current capacity, we cannot represent individuals In court.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We can help with:
- Legal issues related to the MMDA
- Basic information on women’s legal rights under the MMDA
- Marriage Registration
- Divorce Procedure
- Child Custody
- Child Maintenance
Psychosocial Support
- We provide individual counselling, creating safe spaces for women to feel heard and empowered. We use a trauma informed approach, especially in instances of domestic abuse and divorce trauma.
We also handle cases of reporting online violence and harassment by safely referring them for removal off social media platforms.
All services provided by our Support Team are completely free.
Yes, you can reach out to our in-house Lawyer and counselor to get psycho-social and legal support at the same time. We provide consultations in English, Tamil and Sinhala.
Mental health support is important for women impacted by the MMDA and often goes overlooked. The severity of these instances can take a severe toll on a woman’s mental health but is often unrecognised and dismissed. We have noticed a rise and need in individuals needing psycho-social support in recent times.
There are many reasons why one can reach out for support:
- Emotional distress due to divorce and separation
- Trauma from domestic violence/ abuse
- Social stigma and family pressure.
- Fear and uncertainty about legal outcomes
- Loss of identity/self esteem
- Coping with grief and loss specially with children.
- Dealing with family and relationship conflicts.
- Post divorce adjustments due to transition
- Decision making
- Economic struggles