Factors Affecting Glass Ceiling in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service

The glass ceiling represents the invisible barriers preventing women from reaching top leadership positions. In the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) there is a stark gender disparity at higher executive levels. Although women increasingly fill entry-level positions, their representation sharply declines in senior roles. This study examines factors affecting glass ceiling in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. By employing in-depth interviews with 15 female top executive officers, data was collected and Deductive Thematic Analysis was used to analysis the data. This study identified six main barriers women face namely, political, personal, organizational, psychological, social-cultural and stereotyped barriers. These obstacles hinder women’s career advancement despite their qualifications and experience. The research offers policy measures for organizations, individuals, and society to better support the development of women in leadership. The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted barriers women encounter within the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in a historically male-dominated sector. By focusing on the experiences of female top executive officers, the research provides nuanced insights into how these barriers intersect and create a complex web that stifles women's career progression. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding these barriers not just in isolation but also as part of a broader societal context, thereby enriching the discourse on gender equality in leadership. Keywords: Career Advancement, Glass Ceiling, Sri Lanka Administrative Service