Fertility change in Sri Lanka since the war: An analysis of the experience of different districts

Abstract

Using statistics from the censuses of 1946, 1953, 1963 and 1971, and from vital registration, changes in fertility in Sri Lanka as a whole, and in its 19 administrative districts, were examined. For the whole island the level of fertility in 1953 was about the same as in 1946. However, this apparent stability concealed quite substantial increases in fertility in a number of districts. It is argued that these were very probably caused by the eradication of malaria. Between 1953 and 1963 fertility declined somewhat in Sri Lanka as a whole. However, this was due to structural changes rather than to any decline in marital fertility which apparently rose slightly. An analysis of the district figures indicated that this was due to increases in marital fertility among Ceylon Tamils and Ceylon Moors (and possibly Indian Tamils too). However, it remains doubtful whether there were, indeed, genuine increases in marital fertility during this period or only improvements in the completeness of birth registration. Between 1963 and 1971 fertility declined still further in Sri Lanka, and although increasing age at marriage was a very important factor, there were unmistakable signs of declining marital fertility during this period.

A University of London Hayter Travel Grant, which made it possible for the writer to spend some time in India and Sri Lanka during the summer of 1975, was extremely valuable during the early stages of this work. Subsequently, during 1977 and 1978, the writer received substantial help from the U.K. Overseas Development Administration in the form of a grant to cover travel costs and research assistance (Research Scheme No. R3374). Advice, help and data were provided on numerous occasions by staff of the Department of Census and Statistics in Colombo; in particular, the writer would like to thank the Director, Mr W.A.A.S. Peiris, and Mr T. Nadarajah, Miss S. Perera and MrV.S. Ratnasingam. Mr C. Newell (now at the Centre for Population Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) acted as research assistant to the writer, with patience and considerable skill, for five months during 1977 and 1978. The writer would also like to thank Mr C. Taylor, of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, for his comments on an earlier version of this paper, and particularly, for suggesting the approach adopted in the analysis presented in Appendix 2.

A University of London Hayter Travel Grant, which made it possible for the writer to spend some time in India and Sri Lanka during the summer of 1975, was extremely valuable during the early stages of this work. Subsequently, during 1977 and 1978, the writer received substantial help from the U.K. Overseas Development Administration in the form of a grant to cover travel costs and research assistance (Research Scheme No. R3374). Advice, help and data were provided on numerous occasions by staff of the Department of Census and Statistics in Colombo; in particular, the writer would like to thank the Director, Mr W.A.A.S. Peiris, and Mr T. Nadarajah, Miss S. Perera and MrV.S. Ratnasingam. Mr C. Newell (now at the Centre for Population Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) acted as research assistant to the writer, with patience and considerable skill, for five months during 1977 and 1978. The writer would also like to thank Mr C. Taylor, of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, for his comments on an earlier version of this paper, and particularly, for suggesting the approach adopted in the analysis presented in Appendix 2.

Notes

A University of London Hayter Travel Grant, which made it possible for the writer to spend some time in India and Sri Lanka during the summer of 1975, was extremely valuable during the early stages of this work. Subsequently, during 1977 and 1978, the writer received substantial help from the U.K. Overseas Development Administration in the form of a grant to cover travel costs and research assistance (Research Scheme No. R3374). Advice, help and data were provided on numerous occasions by staff of the Department of Census and Statistics in Colombo; in particular, the writer would like to thank the Director, Mr W.A.A.S. Peiris, and Mr T. Nadarajah, Miss S. Perera and MrV.S. Ratnasingam. Mr C. Newell (now at the Centre for Population Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) acted as research assistant to the writer, with patience and considerable skill, for five months during 1977 and 1978. The writer would also like to thank Mr C. Taylor, of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, for his comments on an earlier version of this paper, and particularly, for suggesting the approach adopted in the analysis presented in Appendix 2.