The number of live births has dropped by 20 per cent between the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic period and the deaths increased by 30 per cent, an expert said

Making his remarks during the UNFPA Policy Dialogue on Population Dynamics, Emeritus Professor of Demography Indralal De Silva said the live births reported in 2019 stood at 319,000, and it had declined to 247,000 in 2023 after the Covid-19 pandemic. In the meantime, he said the number of deaths increased from 146,000 to 181,000 during the period.

He attributed it to complications from Covid-19 and vaccination, and reasons such as economic recession that resulted in the lack of medicines, the use of inferior quality medicines, postponement of surgeries in the midst of the crisis and nutritional issues.

Prof. De Silva said the state sector hospitals were ‘bombarded with an influx of patients’ whereas moneyed patients sought treatment at expensive private hospitals.

Asserting that Sri Lankan population is ageing, he said such a phenomenon could be expected. He said 60 per cent of old people (above 60) are grappling with at least one non-communicable disease such as hypertension and heart ailments.

Priyantha Rathnayake, Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies, said the demographic transition underway in Sri Lanka is multifaceted.

“We are witnessing a decline in fertility rates, an increase in the proportion of older persons, and changing patterns of migration. While these shifts present challenges, they also offer unique opportunities for innovative and sustainable growth.

Declining fertility, while a sign of progress, as families have more control over their reproductive choices, it also presents challenges. A shrinking working-age population could mean reduced economic productivity and an increasing dependency ratio. This shift could put additional strain on our social services and economic systems. So, we need to rethink how we approach labour, productivity, and economic growth.

Our response to low fertility must be focused on advancing gender equality, ensuring equal opportunities in the workforce, and guaranteeing comprehensive services including sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

In 2012, the population of older persons 60 years and above was 12.6 per cent, and it is projected to increase to a quarter of the population by 2041,” he said.

An ageing population, while a testament to improving health and longevity, places increasing pressure on our healthcare system, pension schemes, and long-term care facilities. Our healthcare systems, pension schemes, and social support networks will need to adapt quickly to meet the needs of an ageing society,” he said.

The National Security Council, chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, held a meeting today (19) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss preparations for the 2024 Presidential election.

Canada announced Wednesday it was slashing international student permits next year, and tightening foreign worker rules to further bring down the number of temporary residents in the country.

Three persons, including the invigilator, who were on duty at the examination centre of the Rathmale Thissa Maha Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura were to be suspended over the leakage of a Grade 5 Scholarship Examination question paper, North Central Provincial Education Director S.M.W. Samarakoon said.

The Examinations Department and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have launched an investigation into concerns raised over the first paper of the recently held Grade 5 Scholarship examination.

Sri Lanka has reached agreements with external commercial creditors to restructure approximately USD 17.5 bn of external debt, achieving a 40.3% Net Present Value (NPV) concession, the President’s Media Division said.

The Education Ministry today announced the closure of all schools tomorrow (20) as requested by the Election Commission. The schools will reopen on Monday (23).

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has announced a trade union action tomorrow (18), targeting hospitals across the country, GMOA spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.

Six teachers, including a school principal in an examination centre in Anuradhapura, who had allegedly shared the first question paper of the Grade Five scholarship examination using a mobile phone, were taken into custody by the officials of the Examinations Department.

Over the past 76 years, politics in the country has turned into a massive business, causing widespread hardships, Presidential candidate Janaka Rathnayaka said.

SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, addressing a rally, pledged to provide targeted fuel subsidies to essential workers, including farmers, fishermen, three-wheeler drivers and school van/bus operators.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the presidential candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP), has pledged to completely remove VAT on essential sectors such as food, education, and healthcare.

PAFFREL has received reports from the Nuwara Eliya area over a group distributing boxes of matches featuring a Presidential candidate's picture and election symbol on either side. Executive Director of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi, said he has informed the Assistant Commissioner of Elections for the Nuwara Eliya district about this issue.

The Public Security Ministry said that there are currently no plans to impose a curfew on election day and that all security measures are in place, with the armed forces on standby if necessary.

NPP MP Vijitha Herath hinted that the Prime Minister could be a female in a National People's Power (NPP) government. Speaking at a meeting in Minuwangoda, he said after the victory on September 21, a new Cabinet will be appointed with the powers vested with the President under Article 47.3 of the Constitution and parliament will be dissolved.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, leader of the United Republic Front, urged voters planning to support Ranil Wickremesinghe or the SLPP not to waste their votes.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has not established any new consulates nor made additional honorary consul appointments in Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry said Sri Lanka continues to maintain its official embassy in Tel Aviv, which has been the sole diplomatic mission in Israel since 2000.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to bring in a legislation to ban corporal punishment soon.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has officially reached a final decision to endorse Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), at the upcoming presidential election. The announcement came after a party meeting held this morning (Sep. 16) in Vavuniya, where the party’s central committee made the final decision.

An investigation has been launched after a back-up helicopter escorting President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an emergency landing on Saturday. The Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 412 (SUH 522) made an unplanned landing in a paddy field in Eppawala yesterday due to a technical issue.

National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that his government would cancel Indian conglomerate Adani’s 450 MW wind power project in Sri Lanka if elected. He claimed the agreement was corrupt and skewed against Sri Lanka’s interests.