Use of Border Data Collection to Use of Border Data Collection to Measure International Migration Measure International Migration

Flows Flows in Sri Lankain Sri Lanka

H.R.GunasekeraH.R.Gunasekera

DirectorDirector

Department of Census and StatisticsDepartment of Census and Statistics

Sri LankaSri Lanka

Border Data CollectionBorder Data Collection

Border control is the major responsibility of the Border control is the major responsibility of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE).Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE).

DIE controls and regulates the entry and DIE controls and regulates the entry and departure of Sri Lankans and foreigners.departure of Sri Lankans and foreigners.

Border control system is fully computerized.Border control system is fully computerized. Every passport is scanned at the point of arrival/ Every passport is scanned at the point of arrival/

departure and convert the information into the departure and convert the information into the data base.data base.

Border Data Collection contd.,Border Data Collection contd.,

Items converted to data base.Items converted to data base.• Flight numberFlight number

• Passport numberPassport number

• NameName

• NationalityNationality

• Sex Sex

Completeness and accuracy is extremely high.Completeness and accuracy is extremely high.

Tabulations AvailableTabulations Available

Only the following tabulations can be produced.Only the following tabulations can be produced.• Arrivals by nationality and sexArrivals by nationality and sex

• Departures by nationality and sexDepartures by nationality and sex

Tabulations are transmitted to Department of Tabulations are transmitted to Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).Census and Statistics (DCS).

Published in Annual Statistical Abstract and Published in Annual Statistical Abstract and website of DCS website of DCS www.statistics.gov.lkwww.statistics.gov.lk

Limitations of Border StatisticsLimitations of Border Statistics

Confined only to arrivals, departures by Confined only to arrivals, departures by nationality and sex.nationality and sex.

International migrants are not identified among International migrants are not identified among the travellers.the travellers.

Valuable information is collected in embarkation/ Valuable information is collected in embarkation/ disembarkation cards.disembarkation cards.

Can be made to improve border statistics.Can be made to improve border statistics.

Embarkation/Disembarkation Embarkation/Disembarkation CardsCards Every foreigner or a citizen who enter into or exit Every foreigner or a citizen who enter into or exit

from Sri Lanka needs to complete embarkation from Sri Lanka needs to complete embarkation or disembarkation card.or disembarkation card.

Embarkation/Disembarkation cards containEmbarkation/Disembarkation cards contain• Flight number Flight number

• NameName

• SexSex

• NationalityNationality

• Date of birthDate of birth

• Place of birthPlace of birth

• Profession Profession

• Passport number, date of Passport number, date of issue and place of issueissue and place of issue

• Visa number, date and place Visa number, date and place (disembarkation only)(disembarkation only)

• Address in Sri LankaAddress in Sri Lanka

• Address abroad (home Address abroad (home address)address)

Embarkation/Disembarkation Cards Embarkation/Disembarkation Cards contd.,contd.,

• Purpose of visitPurpose of visit Holiday/PleasureHoliday/Pleasure Media coverageMedia coverage EmploymentEmployment Seminar/Conference/ExhibitionSeminar/Conference/Exhibition EducationEducation In TransitIn Transit Visit Friends/RelativesVisit Friends/Relatives Official/BusinessOfficial/Business Religion/CulturalReligion/Cultural Return to Sri Lanka (disembarkation only)Return to Sri Lanka (disembarkation only) Other (specify)….Other (specify)….

• Port of final destination (port of final Port of final destination (port of final embarkation)embarkation)

This document is not computerized yet.This document is not computerized yet.

Identification of international migrants in Identification of international migrants in conformity with UN definitions.conformity with UN definitions.

Purpose of visit is very valuable to identify the Purpose of visit is very valuable to identify the outflows by education, employment etc. ; useful for outflows by education, employment etc. ; useful for policy planningpolicy planning

Need to computerize the cards (scan).Need to computerize the cards (scan).• check for completenesscheck for completeness

• additional supervisionadditional supervision

• time constraintstime constraints

Need to record district of residence for Sir Lankans Need to record district of residence for Sir Lankans in cards to identify net migration by districts; in cards to identify net migration by districts; absence is a drawback in estimating the annual absence is a drawback in estimating the annual mid year population.mid year population.

Improving Border StatisticsImproving Border Statistics

Suggested Additional TabulationsSuggested Additional Tabulations

Arrivals by nationality, purpose of travel and sex.Arrivals by nationality, purpose of travel and sex. Departures of Sri Lankans by country, purpose of Departures of Sri Lankans by country, purpose of

travel and sex.travel and sex. Arrivals of Sri Lankans by district of residence and Arrivals of Sri Lankans by district of residence and

sex.sex. Departure of Sri Lankans by district of residence Departure of Sri Lankans by district of residence

and sex.and sex.

Complementary Source: Sri Lanka Complementary Source: Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).(SLBFE). Functions Functions

• regulation, promotion of foreign employmentregulation, promotion of foreign employment

• protection, welfare of Sri Lankan employed abroad.protection, welfare of Sri Lankan employed abroad.

Every Sri Lankan leaving for employment abroad Every Sri Lankan leaving for employment abroad should register with SLBFE.should register with SLBFE.

Maintain a data baseMaintain a data base• DepartureDeparture

• Private remittancesPrivate remittances

• Complaints received on labour contractsComplaints received on labour contracts

• Welfare measures taken for their childrenWelfare measures taken for their children

• Insurance compensation paymentsInsurance compensation payments

• Job vacanciesJob vacancies

Complementary Source: Sri Lanka Complementary Source: Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) contd.contd. OutflowsOutflows available available Published in Annual Statistical Handbook on Published in Annual Statistical Handbook on

Foreign Employment and web Foreign Employment and web www.slbfe.lkwww.slbfe.lk Limitations Limitations

• all are not registered.all are not registered.• departures reflect the number registered and not departures reflect the number registered and not

actual values.actual values. ImprovementsImprovements

• match PPNo. of those registered in SLBFE with match PPNo. of those registered in SLBFE with PPNo. of departures collected by DIE.PPNo. of departures collected by DIE.

• matching is error prone; hence need rigid controls, matching is error prone; hence need rigid controls, scan passports at SLBFE.scan passports at SLBFE.

Complementary Source: United Complementary Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)Refugees (UNHCR) Collects data on repatriation, Sri Lanka refugees abroad Collects data on repatriation, Sri Lanka refugees abroad

and refugees and asylum seekers in Sri Lanka.and refugees and asylum seekers in Sri Lanka. Every refugee seeking asylum in Sri Lanka needs to be Every refugee seeking asylum in Sri Lanka needs to be

registered; hence such data are complete and accurate.registered; hence such data are complete and accurate. Available informationAvailable information Data published in UNHCR’s web-site Data published in UNHCR’s web-site www.unhcr.lkwww.unhcr.lk on on

monthly basis (latest May 2006).monthly basis (latest May 2006). ImprovementsImprovements

• Provide totals only; need at least age, sex breakdowns.Provide totals only; need at least age, sex breakdowns.• Sri Lankan refugees by country should be published.Sri Lankan refugees by country should be published.• Computation of recognition rates.Computation of recognition rates.

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !