Jan 20, Colombo: A provincial chief minister in Sri Lanka has made a critical statement against the concept of a small family that has been promoted in the country for several decades.

Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath has said that there were concerns over the slow growth of the Sinhala population in the country.

Addressing an event of the Government's Midwifery Services Association, the Chief Minister has said the concept of small family that was initiated in 1980 was no longer valid in the country.

According to the 2011 census the country's Muslim population grew by 76.4 percent, since the last census in 1981, compared to the 38.4 percent of the growth in Sinhala population and the 35.5 percent growth in Tamils.

Herath has observed that the concept of small family was irrelevant in today's context since there's a need for more pious and wise children.

According to Herath, parents should be encouraged to produce more children.