Tablet computer-based survey data collection system debuts

The Department of Census and Statistics is entrusted with the responsibility of conducting censuses and surveys and preparing official statistics on the demographic, social and economic conditions of the country. The Sri Lanka Labour Force survey is one of the main surveys conducted by the Department with an annual sample of 25,000 households. The main objective of the survey is to the estimate the current employment, unemployment and labour force trends of the country.

From 2017 onwards, it has been arranged for Sri Lanka Labour Force surveys to be conducted using the CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) method, which enables data entry to a computer at the time of collection. This system has been established by the Department of Census and Statistics in collaboration with Republic of Korea under the ‘KOSTAT’ project. The Secretary to the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure attended this event as the Chief Guest.

Department of Census and Statistics Director General Dr. Amara Satharasinghe said that the Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing system enables further improvement of the quality and timeliness of official statistics compiled by the Department. 

The ‘KOSTAT’ project was implemented by the Department of Census and Statistics from 2014 to 2016, with the financial assistance of the Government of the Republic of Korea and technical assistance from the National Statistics Office of Korea in three stages. Under the three-year long project, in 2014 the statistical data base ‘LANKA SIS’ was launched. In 2015, two fully equipped computer labs were installed, thereby enhancing the training capacity of the Department.

The theme of the 2016 component of the project was to use of developments in Information and Communication Technology to further improve the quality and timeliness of the official statistics compiled by the Department. Under this component, the Department received all necessary hardware including tablet computers, software and technical assistance to set up the system and to train DCS staff, from the Government of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Satharasinghe said.