Abstract

This data set belongs to the first Census of Trade & Services in Sri Lanka that successfully covered the entire island based on field enumeration carried out in two phases from October through November 2003 and from June through December 2006 respectively.

Over the past several decades, initiatives taken by the DCS to launch a Census of Trade & Services covering entire island have been unsuccessful due to unforeseen circumstances beyond its control. However, the DCS has successfully completed the "Census of Trade & Services 2003/2006" in December 2006 covering entire island for the first time in the history of the Census of Trade & Services.

Prior to this census, the DCS had done a Census of Trade & Services and published a report titling " Census of Trade & Services 1996/1999 " in 2003. However, there are differences in coverage and compilation methodology between these two Censuses.

The "Distribution Census" in 1968 was the first ever recorded attempt made to collect information on Trade & Services sector by the DCS. After this, a survey on "Distribution Trade Activities" was undertaken in 1987 in order to collect information on Trade & Services sector. The DCS was not able to cover the entire country of this exercise as expected. Except some information of these efforts of collecting services sector data, no records are available until mid 90s to write a much more complete account of the history of the Census of Trade & Services conducted by the DCS.

The Census of Trade & Service (2003 - 2006) was designed to collect information across the country and to Initiate as much uncovered areas and establishments as possible.

The operation of this Census began along with the listing operation of the Census of Industries which took place in 2003. The Trade & Service establishments of both rural and urban sectors were covered in Northern and Eastern Provinces. However, for the rest of the seven provinces, the DCS was able to list the Trade and Service establishments only in rural areas during the listing operation of the Census of Industries 2003. The Census of Trade and Services of urban sector was resumed in mid 2006 with a view to collect information which had not been collected during the operation of Census of Industries 2003. Polonnaruwa and Moneragala districts were not included in this urban census as those districts do not possess urban areas. These two districts were completely subject to listing under rural sector in the Census of Industries 2003. With the urban sector Census, all urban areas of15 Districts were enumerated for Trade & Service activities.

Geographic coverage

National Coverage

The Census covered the establishments engaged primarily in the following activities in accordance with SLSIC.

Wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants Transport, storage and communications Financial, intermediation, real estate, renting and business activities Pubic administration & defense, compulsory social security, education, health & social work, other community social & personal service activities, repair of motor vehicles, motor cycles and personal and household goods

Analysis unit

Establishment (Owner/Person) in charge of the Industrial unit.

(The recommended ststistical unit used in Census of Industries 2003 was the establishment. Hence the same concept was used for the Census of Trade and Services)

Universe

Establishment : This census needs following characteristics in order to be qualified as an establishment.

             Availability of its own trade or service facilities
             Maintaining ofaccounts pertaining to the establishment
              Availability of distinct management and suitable location

Statistical Unit : The statistical unit is the entity for which the required items of data are gathered and compiled. The recommended statistical unit used in Census of Industries 2003 was the establishment. Hence, the same concept was used for the Census of Trade & Services.

No. of Persons Engaged : This is defined as the total number of persons who work in or for the establishment including working proprietors, active partners and unpaid family workers.

ISlC Revision 3 : This is a manual called International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (Revision 3) which has been prepared by the UN in order to be used for coding and classifying all sectors of the economy. In order to match the Sri Lankan context a national code list titling "SRI LANKAN STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION" (SLSIC) was prepared by the DCS, based on the UN manual (series M No.4, Rev. 3) of ISIC.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The Items Covered in the Questionnaire were:

        Name of the establishnlent
        Location of the establishment
        Contact person's telephone number
        Commencement of the commercial operation
        Description of activity/ activities
        No of persons engaged