World Bank Group brings together public and private sectors to expand childcare access; Boost women’s employment

Monday, 23 June 2025 03:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka Gevorg Sargsyan, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and Women and Child Affairs Ministry Secretary K.D.R. Olga

Keynote address by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

Welcome address by World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka Gevorg Sargsyan

Expanding access to affordable and quality childcare could be Sri Lanka’s next big move toward creating more and better jobs.

The World Bank Group last week hosted a high-level event “Childcare as an Enabler of Women’s Increased Economic Participation in Sri Lanka,” urging the importance of closing the childcare gap to enable greater participation of women in Sri Lanka’s labour market.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who endorsed the event, emphasised that enabling women to balance work and caregiving is not only the right thing to do, but also essential for economic progress.

To support the national efforts on care, the World Bank Group will be partnering with the Women and Child Affairs Ministry to provide technical assistance on designing a strategic action plan for the National Policy on Child Day Care Centres. This will be supported by the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Facility for Investment Climate Advisory Services (FIAS) program. The World Bank Group will also be convening a multi-stakeholder childcare consortium, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“Childcare is one of the smartest investments we can make in Sri Lanka’s future. It delivers a triple dividend—creating opportunities for women to join and thrive in the workforce, supporting early childhood development, and driving job creation and economic growth,” said Sargsyan. “By championing childcare, we can leverage childcare as a key driver of progress—for families, businesses, and the nation.”

Bringing together key representatives from the Government, private sector, and civil society, the event featured a panel discussion that emphasised fostering public-private partnerships in childcare and making it an economic and social priority.

Panel Discussion on fostering public-private partnerships in childcare, moderated by World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka Gevorg Sargsyan. Panellists include John Keells Holdings PLC Chairman Krishan Balendra, University of Peradeniya Professor of Economics Prof. Dileni Gunewardena, Ceylon Biscuits Group Managing Director Shea Wickramasingha and ILO Country Director Joni Simpson

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