Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj has expressed condolences following the death of the social media figure Nayomi Chan, who the ministry says died of complications during childbirth.
In a statement reported by the Daily Mirror on Wednesday afternoon, the minister said Chan had used her platform “for more than personal fame and recognition”, raising awareness of social issues affecting women, girls and young people.
The minister recalled a video in which Chan spoke “in simple yet meaningful terms about the importance of women’s safety and society’s responsibility to protect them.”
She extended her sympathies to Chan’s family, wishing them strength and courage.
What the statement does not address
The filing is a condolence statement and nothing more. It does not give Chan’s age, say where or when she died, or identify the hospital or facility involved. It does not describe the complications, and it announces no inquiry, review or ministry action of any kind.
Deaths in childbirth are rare in Sri Lanka by regional standards — the country’s maternal mortality ratio has been among the lowest in South Asia for decades, built on a network of free public maternity care and trained midwives. That record is precisely why individual cases draw national attention, and why the absence of any stated review in the minister’s statement is worth noting rather than assuming.
Readers should take nothing in this report as indicating fault on the part of any person or institution. No source consulted alleges any.
Not reported
No cause beyond “complications during childbirth” is given. Nothing is reported about the child. The statement does not say whether the family has sought any inquiry, and the Health Ministry has issued no statement in the reporting available to us.
Single source. Searches of NewsFirst, Hiru, the Island, Daily FT, Daily News, News.lk and Colombo Gazette returned no other filing on Chan’s death or the minister’s statement; a search result matching the name referred to a different person entirely. Ada Derana remains blocked to this desk and Colombo Gazette is returning server errors. The Daily Mirror item carries no reporter byline.