Sri Lankan MP Advocates Rewarding Parents for Having More Children

A Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka has proposed that having more children should be recognized, promoted, and even rewarded. Ajith P. Perera, a lawyer and MP, highlighted a concerning trend: a decline in the number of births by 120,000 over the past decade.

Perera identified several societal and economic factors contributing to this demographic shift. These include a rising age for marriage, a decrease in the overall marriage rate, an increase in separations and divorces, and the escalating cost of living. Additionally, he noted the societal perception that raising children is excessively expensive, compounded by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emigration of young individuals from the country.

To counteract this trend, the MP suggested a package of incentives. These include tax benefits or reduced income tax for families with children, financial assistance for eligible families, and grants upon childbirth. He also called for improvements to maternity and paternity leave benefits. Furthermore, Perera proposed housing assistance programs or concessional housing loans specifically for young families.

The proposal aims to address the declining birth rate by making it more economically feasible and socially encouraged for couples to have children. The suggested measures target various aspects of family support, from direct financial aid to housing and leave policies, reflecting a broader strategy to bolster the nation's population growth.