President Ranil Wickemesinghe in an extraordinary Gazette notification dated July 10 has ordered top Government officials to conduct a National Census of Housing and Population in Sri Lanka in 2023 or 2024.
Kurunegala District Senior Divisional Secretary R.M.Jayaratne told the Sunday Observer that the 15th National Census of Housing and Population in Sri Lanka which was scheduled to be held in 2021 could not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic at that time. He said nearly 55,000 public servants will be deployed to conduct a National Census of Housing and Population in Sri Lanka and that the Government would need Rs.22 million for the purpose.
The last census was held in 2012. The first National Census of Housing and Population in Sri Lanka was held in 1871, according to Government records, he said.