Government must create an environment where children can be raised safely and with dignity: MP Ravikaran
12-Sep-2026.
Providing financial incentives to families alone will not increase the number of births in Sri Lanka. Before asking families to have children, the Government must create a social environment in which children can be raised safely and with dignity, Vanni District MP Thurai Rajasingham Ravikaran said.
He made these remarks while participating in the debate on a Private Member’s Motion calling for financial incentives to be provided to families to increase the number of births in Sri Lanka, in Parliament on 11 September 2026.
Speaking further, he said:
“I agree with the fundamental objective of this motion to provide financial incentives to families to increase the number of births in Sri Lanka. However, financial incentives alone cannot sustainably increase the birth rate. The Government’s primary responsibility should be to create an environment in which families can have children, care for them safely and balance employment with family life.
“This is not a problem that can be resolved merely by providing money to families. It is a national-level issue connected with employment, housing, childcare, transport and social protection.
“Considering the situation in the Vanni Electoral District, there are employees who have come from other districts to work here, employees who work outside their home districts, couples where the husband and wife work in different districts, and employees who have been serving for more than five years but continue to remain outside their home districts due to transfers without replacements.
“Many women here leave home before sunrise and return after sunset. Having to undertake such journeys even during pregnancy poses a threat to their health, safety and family welfare. Staff shortages and excessive workloads at workplaces also place pressure on women to repeatedly postpone decisions relating to childbirth.
“Government female employees are entitled to maternity leave for each live birth. However, female employees in the private sector do not receive the same level of protection. Such protection is not guaranteed as a uniform legal right throughout the private sector.
“Is it fair for mothers in the same country to receive different levels of protection depending on the sector in which they work?
“Even after a child is born, until the child reaches preschool age, parents often have to employ someone to care for the child during working hours. Quality and affordable daytime childcare facilities are extremely limited. This shortage is even more acute in the Vanni.
“As a result, working women are forced to choose between continuing their careers and caring for their children.
“Safe working conditions, a transfer policy that keeps families together, equal maternity leave arrangements in the public and private sectors, benefits for fathers, flexible working arrangements and quality childcare facilities must also be provided.
“Before asking families to have children, the Government must create a social environment in which those children can be raised safely and with dignity. When families have greater confidence, the number of births will naturally increase.
“Therefore, beyond a one-time financial incentive, the Government should introduce an integrated national family welfare policy that protects parents working in both the public and private sectors,” he said.
