Sri Lanka: 25 Million People and Implications, Population and Housing Projections 2012-2062 by W. Indralal de Silva and Ranjith de Silva

The publication Sri Lanka: 25 Million People and Implications, Population and Housing Projections 2012-2062, jointly authored by Prof Indralal de Silva and Mr Ranjith de Silva presents comprehensive population and household projections for the period 2012-2062. It incorporates the latest information revealed in the Census of Population and Housing 2012 which covered entire country after 31 years.
This projection has been eagerly awaited by policy planners and researchers alike, ever since it became clear that the country’s fertility rate had increased appreciably in the last 10-15 years or so that was totally unexpected. The projections that had been made hitherto were therefore biased downwards, and policy recommendations made based on these projections became outdated.
The latest population projections in this publication are revealing. They are somewhat of a reversal of what was expected. The new projected population profile has significant implications for the country’s economic and social policies. This book does not merely provide an update of the population projection, but also discusses a vast array of issues related to demography in Sri Lanka and abroad. These projections must be considered in the planning of health facilities, education and social welfare (particularly the care of the elderly).There are also serious implications for the public finances of the country, labour force participation, retirement benefits, retirement age, housing demand and environmental issue specially deforestation.