Patterns of college admission, attendance, fields of study, student background, and employment for women in Sri Lanka are examined. Sex stereotypes and lifelong sex-based socialization there are found to account for the lack of progress in women's employment and participation in higher education. (MSE)

Efforts made in Sri Lanka to restructure university courses to match the country's employment needs are chronicled, including data on employment level of college graduates in a variety of disciplines. The role of government employment is noted. (MSE)

It is argued that, although Sri Lanka has been able to provide equal access to higher education, this does not represent total equal educational opportunity in relation to students' socioeconomic status. As is typical of developing countries, since employment remains limited, educational achievement does not outweigh antecedent social status. (MSE)