First census on trade and services

The Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) has initiated the first census on trade and services in Sri Lanka and the final phase of listing of the trade and service establishments started last week. Listing of trade and service establishments in urban areas in Colombo and the Gampaha districts will be completed during this month and after that the census frame will be completed. The first phase of the listing which started in June this year covering rural and urban areas of other districts has been completed.

Director (Industries) of the DCS, D. C. A. Gunawardene said that listing of the Colombo and Gampaha districts are very important as there is a higher concentration of trade and service establishments in these two districts.

Gunawardene called upon owners of trade and service establishments in Colombo and Gampaha districts to assist his officials by providing information.

Gunawardene said that this census will provide valuable information on the service sector that provides the largest contribution to the economy. This information will be very important in policy making at micro and macro level, he said. The Service sector contribution to the country's GDP is 56%. It accounts for 44% employment and 21% of the total exports.

Gunawardene assured that the information at individual level will be treated with utmost confidence.