Demographic future of Sri Lanka

If ever there was a case for malnutrition, it was seen in Sri Lanka. Child population has reduced from 35.2% in 1981 to 25.6% in 2012.  

by Victor Cherubim-Sep 30, 2017

( September 30, 2017, London, Sri Lanka Guardian)  Malthus was the precursor of population doom. Statisticians state the population around the world is decreasing since 2012.The exception is India which is expected to become the largest country in population size, surpassing China by 2022.

Population is decreasing in Sri Lanka for a good many reasons since 1953. As of 2011, the UN estimates the population around 20,906,672. As per a Population Census expert in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese population is estimated at 74.9% of the total, whilst the Tamil population, excluding those of the Indian origin ranks third with 10.3%; behind Muslims at 10.8%.Tamils are also a minority as students in the University of Jaffna.

Reasons for decline  

There seems to be four main reasons for the decline in population in Sri Lanka. I need hardly state that immigration was the main reason. It was not only Tamils but Sinhalese

Intelligentsia left the island in droves, seeking work opportunities abroad.

The second reason was fertility. Women pregnancy and replacement of Male/Female is in the ratio 2:1. But, adult population is increasing according to the Department of Anthropology, Durham University, with a simultaneous decrease in resources. I in 4 persons is expected to be an elderly person, making Sri Lanka “the oldest population in South Asia.”

The third reason is family planning. Due to prolonged war and the drastic economic changes, family planning was resorted to. Women were treated as objects of reproductive control. Sex and the pill and pregnancy tests took silent prevalence.

The fourth reason was population displacement and security. This was seen to affect Tamils more during and after the 30 odd years war, but Sinhalese and Muslims were also affected from early marriage due to conscription of the former and other displacement reasons for the latter. Baby factories were craftily created for adoption agencies abroad.  Tamil women were further disadvantaged by the delayed marriage date due to race, religion and culture, with the pernicious caste and dowry system making widows and unwed mothers taboo in marriage. Many Tamil males also had scuppered abroad. The going rate of dowry for a qualified doctor to wed was Rs 7 million. Whilst the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 was in operation in India, Sri Lanka was open to abuse and extortion. Something needs to be done to remedy the situation.

Marriage squeeze 

With 89,000 war widows among Tamils, 25,000 of whom are from Batticaloa and 4000 women under the age of 40, there was a marriage squeeze of Tamil women. For many widows, the main choice issue was whether to keep the “pottu,” an outward symbol of marriage, or to sacrifice themselves as many took their lives with their husbands.

Malnutrition

If ever there was a case for malnutrition, it was seen in Sri Lanka. Child population has reduced from 35.2% in 1981 to 25.6% in 2012.  The Department of Health Services Survey rated deaths due to malnutrition at 29% in the whole of Sri Lanka, with 43% in Jaffna District and 51% in Mullaitivu District, a shocking statistic.

Marital Support 

For war widows and for disabled, marital support is lacking. 9% of the total Sri Lanka population is below poverty line. The number of female headed households both in the Sinhalese and Tamil communities has increased after the thirty years war, as has the number of people with disabilities, due to the war. Action is seen to be slow but forthcoming.

Endangered species 

Public spending on social security/safety programs has decreased as a percentage of GDP from 2.2% in 2004 to 0.3% in 2009. Samurdhi, we are informed suffers from poor targeting and benefit adequacy. Statistics are galore, but action is few and far between.

Elephants, Leopards and some other species are considered as endangered species.

But until the decreasing rate of population in Sri Lanka is abated, it will be humans who will have to class as the “endangered species”.

What can be done immediately? 

Bring back Sri Lankans to their homeland by giving inducements. Bring back talent back to Sri Lanka. Attract business investment back in the form of Sri Lankans entrepreneurs abroad to return home?