Abstract:
Social cohesion and national unity are critical foundations for sustainable development in culturally
diverse and post-conflict societies such as Sri Lanka. In recent years, women entrepreneurship
has gained increasing attention not only for its economic contributions but also for its potential
role in fostering social harmony and inclusive development. Simultaneously, the rapid expansion
of digital technologies has reshaped entrepreneurial ecosystems, creating adaptive digital
landscapes that enable broader participation and cross-community interaction. In response, this
study conducts a PRISMA-guided Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to synthesize empirical
and conceptual evidence on women entrepreneurship, digital adaptation, and social cohesion.
A total of 25 studies, published between 2000 and 2025, were selected from major academic
databases following rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. The thematic analysis mapped the
reviewed studies into interconnected dimensions of economic empowerment, community integration,
digital adaptation, socio-cultural resilience, and social harmony outcomes. The findings
reveal that women entrepreneurship contributes significantly to economic empowerment, community
embeddedness, and social inclusion. Importantly, adaptive digital landscapes emerge as a
critical mediating mechanism that amplifies the social impact of women-led enterprises. Through
digital engagement, women entrepreneurs overcome socio-cultural constraints, facilitate intercommunity
interaction, and contribute to reconciliation, resilience, and social harmony. This
review concludes by positioning women entrepreneurship as a social cohesion mechanism, rather
than a purely economic activity, and highlights key research gaps and future directions. The study
offers valuable implications for policymakers, development agencies, and practitioners seeking to
foster unity and social cohesion through digitally inclusive women-entrepreneurship strategies.
