On Monday, June 6th, the final report of the 2024 Census of Population and Housing in Sri Lanka was formally presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat by Ms. K. M. D. S. D. Karunarathne, the Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics.
This census marks the 15th iteration of such surveys in Sri Lanka and is particularly significant as it is the first to utilize tablet computers and smartphones for data collection across the nation. To facilitate this modern approach, 15,000 devices were employed, which allowed for quicker data gathering, minimized errors, and enabled direct transmission of information to the central servers of the Department. This innovation has greatly enhanced the efficiency of data analysis and report preparation.
Regarded as the most extensive and intricate data collection effort by a government institution in Sri Lanka, the census was conducted under the legal framework of the Census Ordinance.
With guidance from the Department of Census and Statistics and coordination at the district level, a large contingent of specially trained personnel, including government officials, university students, and other higher education trainees from across the country, participated in this national initiative. The designated “Census Moment” was set for December 19, 2024, starting at midnight.
The census report offers in-depth insights into various aspects of Sri Lanka’s population, including growth rates, distribution by district, and information on occupied housing units. It serves as the principal national database, providing vital demographic, housing, socio-economic, and regional data. This information is crucial for government agencies and other organizations in shaping policies and planning developmental projects in the country.
In her remarks regarding the census, Ms. K. M. D. S. D. Karunarathne emphasized that the integration of digital technologies enabled the collection of a broader range of data compared to earlier censuses, allowing for a more detailed analytical report.
The ceremony for the report handover was attended by several dignitaries, including Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Nishantha Jayaweera, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, A. K. Seneviratne, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and various officials from the Department of Census and Statistics, including Additional Director General Ms. Vasana Jayakody.
