Her research study examines on-site childcare facilities for women in Kurunegala district and their willingness to pay for such establishments.
This study focuses on how lack of access to childcare services has become an impediment for women’s entry into the labour force in Sri Lanka.
It also notes that besides maternity leave, there are no adequate social policies to support working parents with childcare responsibilities.
The study uses primary data from a contingent valuation survey and secondary data from the Labour Force Survey, 2019.
Ms. Balasooriya is a B.Sc. (Special) Graduate in Industrial Management of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and is carrying out her research at IPS under the supervision of Dr. Bilesha Weeraratne.