Fact Check
MP Lakmali Hemachandra, in her statement, highlights that Sri Lanka has an unusually low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), reporting it at 30%.
FLFPR is defined as the percentage of females aged 15 or older who have a job or are seeking a job.
According to data from the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka’s FLFPR stands at 31.3% in 2023, which aligns closely with the MP’s claim (see Exhibit 1).
Based on the FLFPR figures published in an International Labour Organisation database, 88% of the 191 countries and territories featured had a higher FLFP rate than Sri Lanka, making Sri Lanka’s level unusually low.
Therefore, we classify the MP’s claim as TRUE.
*FactCheck.lk’s verdict is based on the most recent information that is publicly accessible. As with every fact check, if new information becomes available, FactCheck.lk will revisit the assessment.
Exhibit 1: Sri Lanka’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate
Sources
Department of Census and Statistics, Annual Labour Forcey Survey 2023 , available at http://www.statistics.gov.lk/LabourForce/StaticalInformation
ILOSTAT Database, available at https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/