Census on Public Sector employees on May 28

After eight long years, the Department of Census and Statistics is to carry out a scientific census on employment in both the public and semi-government sectors tomorrow (May 28) across the island including corporations and statutory boards.

To carry out this national survey, Chief Census Coordinating Officers have been appointed representing all line ministries, provincial chief secretariats, District Secretariats, departments and agencies and independent institutions that do not come under the purview of a Ministry, according to a circular issued by the Presidential Secretariat on the census which will gather information on all levels of staff employed on permanent, temporary, casual and contract basis in those respective institutions.

"I expect that you will provide the necessary support to the Department of Census and Statistics to conduct the census on employment in the public and semi-public sector on Tuesday (May 28), by properly directing your institution as well as all the institutions under you," Secretary to President Saman Ekanayake instructed in the circular. 

Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics Mrs D.D.G.A. Senevirathne told the Sunday Times that to facilitate this process, institutional Census Coordinating Officers have also been appointed and preparatory steps have already been taken to ensure smooth operations on Tuesday.

"There have been quite several data requests on the public sector recently. The last census on the public sector was carried out in 2016," said the Head of the National Census Office.

The fresh census comes in the wake of recent public criticism of the inefficiency and lethargic overpopulated public sector in the country which requires a significant amount of funds from the Treasury to finance salaries and allowances every month at the expense of taxpayers.

According to the 2016 census,1.1 million (1,109,475) individuals excluding the uniformed personnel of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force employed in the Public and Semi­Government Sectors in which 65.3 per cent hold positions in the Central Government while 34.7 per cent hold positions in the Provincial Councils.