Sri Lanka is facing a looming crisis as its labour force shows signs of a rapid decline, according to Professor Wasantha Athukorala of the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Peradeniya. Citing recent data from the 2024 Population and Housing Census, Professor Athukorala warns that the shrinking workforce poses a serious threat to the country’s economic stability and future development.

The country’s total population currently stands at 21.76 million. However, despite a modest increase of 1.4 million people since the last census in 2012, the population growth rate has slowed to just 0.5%—a noticeable drop from 0.7% recorded a decade ago.

This downward trend signals an overall decline in population growth, which could have far-reaching effects.

“This is not just a demographic issue; it’s an economic one,” Professor Athukorala said. “A shrinking labour force means fewer people contributing to the economy, which in turn increases the burden on those who are working. The pressure on healthcare systems will also rise with an ageing population, and we can expect a range of social and infrastructural challenges to intensify.”

One such challenge is the growing strain on urban centers. The census revealed significant disparities in population density across the country.

Nearly 6 million people reside in the Western Province, while the Central and Southern Provinces have 2.7 million and 2.6 million respectively. This uneven distribution is contributing to increased urban congestion and potential neglect of rural areas.

Professor Athukorala said that there was another troubling social reality: 2,281 individuals in Sri Lanka are currently homeless, lacking basic shelter—another indicator of rising socio-economic stress.

Although national censuses are typically conducted every ten years, the 2024 edition experienced delays. Still, the findings paint a clear picture: Sri Lanka’s population is aging, growing more slowly, and concentrating unevenly—all while its labor force dwindles.

“As the workforce continues to decline, we must be prepared for rising healthcare costs, increased urban pressures, and deepening social issues,” warned Professor Athukorala. “Policy interventions are urgently needed to mitigate the long-term impacts.”

By Sujeewa Thathsara

A suspect was arrested on Wednesday along with a stock of Kerala cannabis with a street value of approximately Rs. 15 million, concealed a house at Kilinochchi.

The search operation, carried out jointly by the STF and the Kilinochchi Police based on the intelligence, led to the detection of the cannabis stash in a house located in the Puliyampokkanai, Dharmapuram area. The stock of cannabis weighed 85 kilos in 40 parcels.

The suspect is a 28-year-old resident of the Uduvil area in Jaffna. A truck believed to have been used for transporting drugs was also taken into custody. The suspect with the consignment of cannabis was handed over to the Kilinochchi Police Station for further investigation.

The Navy took into custody a stock of contraband cosmetic products adrift in the seas off Kiranchi, north of Mannar on Wednesday.

During a search operation conducted by Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) personnel attached to SLNS Buwaneka under the North Central Naval Command, naval personnel recovered two suspicious floating parcels, containing a significant haul of items believed to have been smuggled. Upon inspection, the parcels were found to hold 3,200 sachets of shampoo, 376 tubes of cosmetic cream, 75 bars of soap, and several other items.

The Navy believes that smugglers abandoned the consignment due to the Navy’s heightened surveillance in the region. The haul of cosmetic products was handed over to the Jayapuram Police for onward legal action, the Navy said.