Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath has called for more Sinhalese families to reproduce, expressing concerns over the apparent slow growth rate of the Sinhalese population.
Speaking at a Government's Midwifery Services Association event, the Chief Minister was reported as saying that according to government figures, the Sinhalese population was growing at slower rates than the Tamil and Muslim populations on the island.
He went on to state there was a need for more "pious and wise children" in the country, encouraging the Sinhalese populace to have larger families.
For similar proposals, see Sri Lanka's 2012 budget, which stated,
"It is proposed to extend the application of the proposal that was announced in the last Budget to grant Rs.100,000 at the birth of the third child of any member of the security forces, to those who are serving in the Police force as well."
See our earlier post: 2012 budget fosters militarisation (21 November 2011)
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