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by Nadira Gunatilleke

A significant reduction in the percentage of female employees in the private banking sector in Sri Lanka has been observed during the past few years.

According to the Women's Affairs Ministry women represent about 53.8 of the total population in Sri Lanka.

Despite this the private banking sector gradually minimises the number of female employees according to statistics.

According to statistics by the Seylan Bank Human Resources Division the percentage of their female employees has been gradually reduced during the past few years.

The percentage of female employees of the bank in 2000 was 39 percent while the number has decreased to 38 percent by 2001. In 2002 the percentage further decreased to 37 percent and according to this year's statistics the percentage of female employees of the bank has decreased to 35 percent.

According to the Human Resources Division of Sampath Bank they have been maintaining 34 percent of female employees during the past several years.

This is far less than the required percentage when taking into consideration the female ratio of the total population of Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank Human Resources Division said that the women employees ratio of the bank is one female to two males.

When compared with the population this is also not satisfactory because women represent 53.8 percent of Sri Lanka's total population.

Some of the banks did not respond positively to the Daily News for statistics regarding the percentage of women employees.

The reasons behind this new trend according to several professionals and scholars is that obtaining maternity leave, concentrating more on family affairs after getting married and difficulties in rostering for long shifts are some of the main reasons behind this new trend.

When questioned about this issue Women's Affairs Minister Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake said that it is unacceptable if women are being deprived from gaining employment opportunities just because they are women. Women are much ahead than men when it comes to the quality of work.

In developed countries women are most welcome for employment and they are not deprived from gaining any type of employment opportunities, she said.

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