Women Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Social Harmony in Sri Lanka: A Systematic Literature Review Within Adaptive Digital Landscapes

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.