The Census and Statistics Department yesterday asked the people to ensure that they get counted at the countrywide population census between February 27 to March 21.

The department said that all citizens are legally bound to provide accurate information and allow access to their homes for the enumerators. The department’s Director General D.B.P Suranjana Vidyaratne said that according to the provisions of the Census Ordinance the department too was also legally bound to ensure that any information provided by the people were not disseminated to other parties.

For the purpose of convenience Vidyaratne said people should keep their personal information ready during the census period such as NIC numbers, birthdays, district of birth, highest educational qualifications, highest professional/vocational qualifications, computer literacy, and occupations and nature of each individual’s economic activity.

The census will cover data on each individual including basic information, birth and deaths, migration, physical and mental difficulties, educational qualifications, computer literacy, housing information as such source of drinking water, type of cooking fuel lighting, toilet facilities, tenure and solid waste.

Vidyaratne said the information would be utilised to provide adequate facilities where necessary and to maintain an accurate data base on population and housing. The census which was carried out during a four year period was funded by the Finance Ministry at a cost of Rs.1.7 billion. (Olindhi Jayasundere)