Census Dept. rejects TNA claims

26 December 2013 03:18 pm - 27 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Department of Census and Statistics today said the census carried out into the human and material losses incurred due to the conflict, was done according to international standards and norms with every aspect of loss being looked into.

Rejecting the Tamil National Alliance statement regarding the procedural lacuna, the department’s Director General D.C.A Gunawardena told the Daily Mirror that the claim was “ a political gimmick”.

“The census was carried out completely following international standards and practices of data collection. We have devised a questionnaire after consultation with a steering committee which comprises experts in their relevant fields and all stakeholders. The assertion by the TNA is wrong and is based on their politics” he said.

Explaining the questionnaire, the Director General said it comprised the causes of loss and every other factor relating to the loss.

“If it’s a loss of life we even inquired into who the people they thought were responsible and whether it was people in civilian clothing or in uniform. We also checked the documents or any other material evidence of the relatives or family possessed in order to ascertain the authenticity of their claims,” he said.

He further said that the census which was carried out island wide was conducted in a manner that is most suitable to ensure that all data was gathered without duplication.

“This was not conducted in an ad hoc manner, we provided the technical expertise to the officials who are conducting the census. We are trying our level best to eradicate any duplication or gathering of false data” he told the Daily Mirror.

“This is the best that we could do, we are following all internationally laid down procedures in conducting this” he said.

The census which was conducted for over a month saw the participation of 15,500 government officials with every 500 households in the North being handled by one enumerator. In the South one enumerator was in charge of 1000 households.

The first report of the census is expected by mid February, the Daily Mirror learns.

Earlier, TNA Parliamentarian Mavai Senadhirajah said the five-party amalgam had decided not to cooperate with the census on the grounds that the procedures adopted by the officials in gathering information were not agreeable to them. He said the circumstances of incidences of disappearances and deaths were not being accommodated in the census process and this was not acceptable to the Alliance.(By Hafeel Farisz)

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Comments - 27

Santoz Friday, 27 December 2013 12:00 AM

Recent reports say this Dep altered Economic Data to show higher growth than actual. How to trust this people? via DM Android App

nihal Saturday, 28 December 2013 09:02 AM

you follow all the international standards but finally they cook the data in hose and come up with totally distorted figure...

John Saturday, 28 December 2013 08:16 AM

I believe the Govt questionnaire forms were in English & Sinhalese only? Rather strange when most of those affected are Tamils/Muslims.....

Ramani Saturday, 28 December 2013 07:46 AM

Its not Tamil civilians but LTTE Tamil Terrorists!

tammy Friday, 27 December 2013 08:46 AM

But when Sl gov bomb ari raid they know that only tamil will be killed.

Asanka De Silva Friday, 27 December 2013 07:30 AM

It's obvious that if the census continued, They can't prove the "40000 or 70000 something slaughtered" claims.

Jan Chandra Friday, 27 December 2013 07:13 AM

TNA should be banned as a political party as its policies of dividing the country are against the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Govt. is napping on its responsibilities. How could one ask Australia to ban LTTE when it is live and well in Sri Lanka? Come on, the President and the crew show us some leadership to resurrect Sri Lanka.

Mason Friday, 27 December 2013 06:14 AM

Today the administration structure has deteiorated to such an extent that none believes what the government says or does. Hence, the census taken will not be accepted by the public.

Ganesh Friday, 27 December 2013 05:19 AM

Why Nihal you too can not understand the real situation .Government trotted that they would do everything but the LTTE was obstacle to everything Now this is a different story time buying and almost all the sinhalese are not prepared to recognize the reasonable demands of the Tamils This is the truth nothing else but one thing is certain idiot Pirabaharan missed the bus with many benefits for Tamils

Giann Friday, 27 December 2013 05:13 AM

This is the same what was said about the LLRC at the begining. Now most of the world accepts what the LLRC did and said. The TNA is really worried about this outcome of the census.

Said Hussein Friday, 27 December 2013 04:33 AM

I totally agree with Yoosuf and further more to add to this comment I would say that the GOSL always tries to hide the truth from the public and international community.

Grace Friday, 27 December 2013 04:02 AM

TNA will always oppose any proposal put forward by the government for political survival.

teni Friday, 27 December 2013 02:52 AM

Please remove your color spectacles. If it is not you cant see the truth. Everybody should understand people who live in north and south everybody suffered more than enough during last 30 yrs. when blasting bombs LTTE didnot care about whether there were any Tamils could be blasted. Why my dear don't you understand this.

niro Friday, 27 December 2013 02:44 AM

The UN has so far not initiated action against US and UK for atrocities committed in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Vietnam. Thus, I fully agree with you Saskia.. they are the right organization to do this

Exhorcist Thursday, 26 December 2013 04:23 PM

Now what? One say its a hoodwink the other says its a gimmic?? Who is playing hide and seek?? When will the Sri Lankans see the light of expressing the real freedom??

nicky karunarathna Friday, 27 December 2013 02:25 AM

What can you expect from racist Tamil political party like TNA. if they cooperate - they will get exposed telling continuous lies about missing and dead. These Tamil racist living, eating, drinking and sleeping with damn lies throughout their history. Simply, now they cannot come out from their dark to light or face reality in the world.

Premalal Friday, 27 December 2013 02:16 AM

The department is a discredited organisation after the disclosure of doctored growth figures by a senior officer. .

Nihal Amarasekera Friday, 27 December 2013 01:44 AM

Trust lost true, but then where to rekindle & begin going forward. As mush as the government " seems" untrustworthy TNA too "seems" hellbent on satisfying pro-LTTE diaspora. No real desire to agree or agree to disagree.

truth Friday, 27 December 2013 01:43 AM

The government is for the Rajapakse, by the Rajapakse!! No one is prepared to believe anything which has anything to do with the Rajapakse govt.!!!

Shehan Thursday, 26 December 2013 09:22 PM

Prior to conducting this census, if the Census & Statistics Dept. had engaged all stakeholders including the UN and TNA then there wouldn't be any issues.

You would think that the Govt. would have figured this out by now.

RohanR Thursday, 26 December 2013 08:25 PM

"...was done according to international standards and norms"...?

They say the same thing about the elections in Sri Lanka. They say the same thing about the assessment. forecasting and decision-making on economy in Sri Lanka.

Aj Thursday, 26 December 2013 08:22 PM

Sasika why UN? Why not LTTE do the census alsi? So it can be ratified by UK and Canadian PM? Man we are a country with our own people and standards, why do you need UN for everything? You think TNA takes census of Tamil people in UK? First trust the govt otherwise stop expecting anything and find another country!

Im Fair Thursday, 26 December 2013 07:48 PM

Govt always say that they are true and fair, but oppositions always say they are corrupted. Even the public knows it clearly that the govt is always lying but when it comes to a vote it's only tamils who show their power. Unfortunately others just go again and vote the govt..

Goofy Thursday, 26 December 2013 07:14 PM

The time is ripe for an independent international inquire. This is the only way and as Sri Lanka has nothing to hide and as the leaders do not live in glass houses this is a simple exercise.

singing fish Thursday, 26 December 2013 06:46 PM

I fully agree with Saskia that UN is the right organisation to carry out this census.

Saskia Thursday, 26 December 2013 05:35 PM

The Census and Statistics should be taken by a non-governmental organization because we have lost our faith in the SL government. The UN is the right organization to do this.

THIRUCHELVAM A Thursday, 26 December 2013 04:43 PM

No way. Is it considered all the probability causes to damage to the people/property (killed people by LTTE/SL force/Other armed group).SL force is not in the form.This is waste of time and money. Questionaire must be prepared by desk survey including UNP/TNA/MC/EPRLF/ENDLF/JVP. that survey may show the real picture. this is government color. TNA decision is correct as a affected people. Do honestly, then people will follow you. otherwise south only follow you

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Census Dept. rejects TNA claims

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