Census of population in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 April 1999, 21:05 GMT]
An official census of the population in the Jaffna district was begun this week said Jaffna Kachcheri officials today. Village officers (Gramaka Sevakas - GS) in the peninsula were briefed at the Kachcheri about procedures relating to this census they said.

Sri Lanka army (SLA) officers had also been present at this briefing, according to sources in Jaffna. Kachcheri officials said that the census would be staggered. The first phase of the census is currently in progress in the administrative divisions of Jaffna town, Nallur and Kopay.

Forms titled 'Census' in Tamil (Kudisana Mathippeedu) and Sinhala are being distributed for the purpose by village officers in their respective areas. Village officials have informed households that the SLA will collect the forms completed by each family in their divisions.

The census is being taken for administrative purposes a government official said today, adding that the military is also keen to expedite matter. The SLA says that correct statistics of the Jaffna population is necessary to manage the security of the peninsula with greater efficiency.

The last official census of Sri Lanka, including Jaffna, was taken in 1981.