Sri Lanka, Feb. 9 -- With many Chinese-origin families considering children born in the Year of the Dragon to be "especially auspicious", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday urged married Singaporean couples to have babies during the year and assured them his government's support.

In his annual Chinese New Year message, Lee said the dragon is a "symbol of power, strength and good fortune".

"So now is as good a time as any for young couples to add a 'little dragon' to your family," said the prime minister who celebrates his birthday on 10 February. Lee was born in the year of Dragon in 1952.

"We will build a 'Singapore Made for Families', and continue supporting your marriage and parenthood aspirations," The Channel News Asia quote...