SeaSisters Is the Local Surf School Empowering Sri Lankan Women
“I overcame fear and challenged what I was told about what’s expected of women in our culture. The ocean is ours, too.”
The ocean is for everybody. That’s the belief of SeaSisters, a non-profit organization and surf school, launched in 2018. For founders Martina Burtscher and Amanda Prifti, both of whom have backgrounds in international development, the idea for the organization was born from a trip to Sri Lanka, which led to the realization that proximity to the ocean didn’t automatically equal access or confidence, especially where local women were concerned.
Inspired by Sri Lanka’s first all-female surf club, the Arugam Bay Girls Surf Club, the founders witnessed the power of women reclaiming space in the sea and set their sights on improving access, education and building opportunity. Despite living by the sea, the majority of Sri Lankan women never learn how to swim and as a result, the waters they call home don’t feel like theirs.
Now led by local women on the ground, SeaSisters has become a powerful part of the community that hopes to change that narrative, offering free swim and surf programs that teach ocean safety, environmental education and cultural sensitivity, building confidence and supporting sisterhood.
We caught up with co-founder Martina Burtscher, Kalpa Gandhari, the Director of Legal Affairs and Udani Hewamadduma, the Director of Programs and Ocean Education, to talk about the journey of SeaSisters so far, the importance of representation in surfing and the organization’s plans for the future.
Scroll down to read the full interview. For more sports communities to follow, read our chat with the run club, Late Night Menu Crew.
On Representation in Surfing
Kalpa: It is transformative! Surfing in Sri Lanka has long been dominated by foreigners and local men. Seeing Sri Lankan women claim their space in the water challenges that narrative and creates new role models. For many girls, witnessing someone like Amzhii, a local woman who learned through SeaSisters and went on to become an instructor, and recently a surf competition winner, is very powerful. Culture shifts through visibility, and every diverse face in the lineup sends a signal that the ocean is truly for everyone.
Udani: In many rural South Asian communities, deeply rooted gender roles and societal expectations that women stay home, fulfil domestic duties and limit their access to public and leisure activities, including sport. In Sri Lanka, the lasting trauma of the 2004 tsunami heightened fear of the ocean, and the swimming infrastructure was often absent, especially in schools. SeaSisters is changing this by creating safe spaces where local women learn to swim and surf at no cost. Additionally, each female surfer visible in the lineup becomes a symbol, showing others what’s possible and gradually re-shaping societal norms.
[My message to them is] You belong in the water, even if no one has told you that. I realized that each time I stepped into the ocean, I overcame fear and challenged what I was told about what’s expected of women in our culture. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and understand your journey. The ocean is for us, too. It’s ours.
On the Importance of Community
Udani: To us, community means support, trust, shared experiences and collective growth. At SeaSisters, we nurture that community through our weekly women-only swim and surf lessons, community gatherings, inspiring talks, ocean education and the stories we share with one another. Over time, we’ve built something more than just a program; we’ve created a sisterhood of ocean-loving women who lift each other up. And that’s so special to be a part of. What makes us most proud is seeing our participants step into leadership. Some of the girls who first joined us to learn how to swim have now become facilitators, mentors, and even instructors themselves. We’re honoured to be part of this.
On their Proudest Moments
Martina: There’s so much we’re proud of since SeaSisters began, it’s honestly hard to narrow it down. One of the most powerful things has been witnessing the transformation in our participants. Women and girls who once feared the ocean, many of whom had never been in the sea, are now confidently swimming, surfing, and seeing the ocean not as something dangerous or off-limits, but as a space full of possibility.
We’ve also seen incredible local leadership emerge. Women like the Hewamadduma sisters started with us as students and have since grown into leaders and role models. Watching them lead the next generation of girls and stand proudly in their power has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
Most of all, I think it’s the small but quiet cultural shifts that feel the most meaningful. When a once sceptical mother now encourages her daughter to join, or when a community elder watches a surf lesson with pride instead of concern, we know something deeper is changing. One lesson, one family, one story at a time.
On the Future of the Organization
Martina: We imagine a future where more Sri Lankan women become certified instructors, respected ocean leaders and key players in the surf tourism industry. As our programs continue to grow, both during the surf season and beyond, we’re creating year-round opportunities for connection, leadership and empowerment. Our hope is that SeaSisters becomes more than just a grassroots initiative. We want it to be recognised as a vibrant ocean hub and a powerful feminist movement in South Asia.
One day, we dream of building a SeaSisters Headquarters, a safe, welcoming space by the sea where learning, leadership and sisterhood can thrive every day of the year. And looking further ahead, we hope to grow beyond Sri Lanka, joining forces with like-minded movements across South Asia. Because we believe every woman, everywhere, deserves to feel free in the water.
