Prime Minister (PM) Harini Amarasuriya asserted that childcare must be recognized as a vital economic and policy issue, not merely a woman's concern, as she addressed a World Bank Group event in Colombo yesterday (17).

Speaking at the roundtable titled "Childcare as an Enabler of Women’s Increased Economic Participation in Sri Lanka," she emphasised that enabling women to balance caregiving and work is essential to national development.

With only 32% female labour force participation compared to 74% among men, the Premier highlighted how women’s unpaid contributions remain invisible in national statistics. Closing this gender gap, she noted, could boost Sri Lanka’s GDP by up to 20%.

Amarasuriya also outlined Government initiatives such as Early Childhood Development programs, tax incentives for businesses providing childcare, and economic support for working families. She called for stronger public-private partnerships and commended the World Bank’s ongoing support in this domain.

The event drew participation from senior officials, including World Bank Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan, and representatives from the public and private sectors.