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Purpose – This purpose of this paper is to examine how working mothers understand childcare practices and perception on existing childcare centres in a different social context like Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – A thematic analysis approach is used to analyse mothers’ narratives, drawn from in-depth qualitative interviews, along with data from some representative secondary sources. Findings – The paper considers women professional and managerial employees in Sri Lanka, and demonstrates that working mothers use diverse childcare arrangements to harmonise their work and family life, strongly believing their own mother as the best caregiver for their small children. Research limitations/implications – This study represented only middle-class mothers, therefore the research suggested that different mothers (professional and managerial) take their decisions differently. Based on this argument, it can be expected that mothers of different occupations are more likely to take different decisions as they believe what is “right and proper”. Thus, extensive research is warranted. Practical implications – This paper discusses the implications while extending the geographical scope of the literature on mothers’ gender ideology on childcare and existing practices in childcare centres. Social implications – State and private organizations should consider investments in childcare support and other flexible work options so that women continue to remain in their careers. Originality/value – The paper extends the geographical scope of the literature on mothers’ gender ideology on childcare and existing practices in childcare centres. This would be the first research article directly focused on the impact of working mothers’ gender ideologies on childcare and perception on existing childcare centres in Sri Lanka. Thus, the present study provides a number of new research avenues for future researchers to use.

Abstract:Floriculture industry is considered a high income generating agribusiness and it can potentially be harnessed as a means of socioeconomic development in Sri Lanka. Limited literature and lack of data are the main barriers to develop policies in this sector. The business is handled by a few exporters, middle level growers and small scale growers. The National Policy Framework of the Government of Sri Lanka (2010) aimed to develop the floriculture sector as a source of income generating pathway to unemployed women in the country.The observation and analysis presented in this paper is based on a survey conducted during April -August 2014 in Colombo and Gampaha Districts of Sri Lanka and views of growers obtained in the workshop on " Setting new horizons in horticulture 2020" held on 30 th January 2015 in Colombo. Data were collected for qualitative analysis through direct questions and open ended questions. The findings of this study acknowledge that the collective actions of growers drive the development of floriculture in the country. Indirectly, growers highlighted that increase in the utilisation of flowers and indoor plants in the country has created a favorable demand for their products and therefore, growers need to expand their operations. The main constrains of the growers were financial difficulties and high cost of land to expand their productions. Growers as well as the government need to develop a proper market for floriculture products at national and international levels in par with other export agricultural crops in the country.

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Worldwide studies of professional and managerial dual-earner couples in specific professions have indicated that with the double burdens of work and family, working long hours limit women’s career aspirations. Based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 40 respondents, this article examines how long working hours in the banking and health sectors impact professional and managerial mothers’ family life and health, and how the latter perceive motherhood roles. Though there was evidence of negative effects of long hours especially on childcare and children’s cognitive development, while rationalising their decision on combining motherhood and paid work, mothers interviewed valued their full-time employment.