• To write to Women Affairs and Labour Ministries 

The Family Planning Association (FPA) is planning to formally request the Government to consider paid menstrual leave for women, as a progressive initiative for the International Menstrual Hygiene Day, presenting it as a need of the day. The FPA, according to the data, is the first institute in the country to approve paid menstrual leaves for its female employees.  

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (28), Executive Director of the FPA, Dr. Ruchitha Perera said that it was last year that the FPA formalised the procedure to approve paid leave for female employees, adding that the Association will be writing to the Women and Child Affairs Ministry, the Labour Ministry, and the relevant authorities to consider approving the leaves for female employees in Government institutes.  

“It will be a great win for us if we could start this for both the State and the private sector also,” he added. He showed interest in launching programmes to widen awareness about the social responsibility of taking care of women and to normalise menstruation and to bring both Government and private sector institutions to launch this initiative. 

All over the world, various steps have been taken, including bringing in a tax-free policy for menstrual hygiene products and spreading awareness for the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, including in Sri Lanka. The request of the FPA comes at a moment when Sri Lanka is considering tax-free menstrual hygiene products for women.