The Department of Census and Statistics has started the process of conducting its national decennial “Census of Population and Housing”, conducted over the course of approximately one year, to determine, among other things, the number of persons in the country without a registered birth certificate, The Morning learnt. “The Census of Population and Housing has started this year and we hope that the completed Census results will be available to the public by next year (2022). It has also been discussed that this Census would determine as to how many Sri Lankans do not have a birth certificate,” an official at the Department of Census and Statistics told The Morning. The official further said that since the Census mapping process (division of the country for the purposes of the Census) is mostly completed, the listing process is due to begin. Meanwhile, Registrar General’s Department Senior Deputy Registrar General G.L. Dilhani Ganepola told The Morning that a programme was started last month to provide mobile services to allow people without birth certificates to obtain a new one. “We record approximately 320,000 births per year, but we do not know how many in Sri Lanka do not currently hold a birth certificate. This is why we have initiated this programme so that people can obtain birth certificates easily,” explained Ganepola. The mobile services programme would continue until next month. The Census of Population and Housing is conducted every 10 years. The one conducted in 2012 determined the total population including division on the basis of sex (male and female); the population below and above 18 years of age; urban, rural and estate populations; the population based on the education status, literacy rates, economic status, and births. Additionally, the housing component of the Census ascertained the types of housing units and structures, and households with different types of facilities.
