• Urges all to consider personal econ. situ & age gap when family planning  

In response to the concerning decline in birth rates of the country, the Family Health Bureau (FHB) stated that it has a limited space to intervene in the matter since it is a natural occurrence in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current economic crisis.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (6), FHB Director Dr. Chitramalee de Silva, emphasised that while the decrease in birth rates is indeed a social issue, it is not an abnormal situation and is expected to normalise within the next few years. Dr. de Silva highlighted the multifaceted nature of the decline, citing the pandemic’s impact and economic stability as contributing factors and that the FHB has very limited space to intervene to boost the birth rate. “It is not surprising to observe a decrease in birth rates during such challenging times. The Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis have undoubtedly influenced individuals’ decisions regarding family planning,“ she stated. 

Dr. de Silva further noted that the FHB does not advocate for couples to have more or fewer children but instead encourages them to make informed decisions based on their personal circumstances. “We respect individuals’ autonomy in family planning decisions and advocate for couples to decide for themselves. We urge everyone to be concerned about their economic status and the age gap between the children when deciding on children,” Dr. De Silva noted. However, Dr. De Silva expressed optimism about the situation, stating that it is a natural phenomenon following a pandemic and during economic uncertainty. “While the decline in birth rates may present challenges, it is important to recognise that it is a normal situation in the aftermath of economic and health crises. It will come back to normal within the next few years,” she added.

Last year (2023), the Department of Census and Statistics announced a significant decrease in Sri Lanka’s annual birth rate between 2019 and 2022. Accordingly, data gathered by the Department showed that while there has been a continuous decrease in birth rates since 2014, Sri Lanka’s annual birth rate has had a drastic drop between 2019 and 2022. The statistics revealed that there is a decrease of 6,401 in the number of registered births reported in 2023 and 2022, with a total of 268,920 births having been reported as of 1 July 2023, while a total of 275,321 births were reported in 2022.

Speaking on the matter in the Parliament on Wednesday (5), the Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha too stated that reports from the Ministry of Health have also confirmed a drastic decrease in Sri Lanka’s annual birth rate.