Census and Statistics Dept. launches first survey to assess COVID-19 economic impact

• Three-week web-based survey aimed at providing accurate information on COVID-19 impact to policymakers
• Dept. officials say accurate information needed for an effective recovery plan for all sectors
• All businesses requested to participate in surveys and provide correct information  

By Chandani Kirinde

The Department of Census and Statistics yesterday launched an islandwide web-based survey to measure the impact of COVID-19 on the country’s economy.

The survey is open to both the formal and informal sectors and large and medium-scale businesses,   Director General of Census and Statistics Dr. I.R. Bandara said.

“The country needs accurate and timely information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the economy for an effective recovery plan for all sectors. The Department has initiated the sample survey, covering the entire country and all sorts of economic activities for this purpose,” Bandara said at a press briefing.

She said the survey will proceed via a representative sample of over 20,000 entities representing the economy across all divisional secretariats in the country.

The method that will be followed is the Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system instead of the paper based surveys that are usually done so as to expedite the process and have the statistics compiled in about two months from the last day of the survey which is 20 July.

The Department is reaching out to business entities through the media, as well as their regional officers who will visit small businesses and encourage them to take part in the survey. The 10-point questionnaire is available in all three languages and formulated in a simple manner to encourage participation, the DG said.

The questions seek to gather an overall impact COVID-19 has had on both the employers and employees. The questions include seeking comparisons on how business fared in the first five months of the year as opposed to the same period last year as well as what percent of their set targets for the first half of 2020 have been achieved.

The survey will also cover areas such as staff layoffs, pay cuts and additional expenditure that companies have had to endure to put in place COVID-19 related preventive measures such as installing handwashing facilities, sanitisers, rearranging office setups etc.

The survey also seeks answers on how COVID-19 restrictions impacted industries that rely on imported raw materials such as the construction, garments sectors.

DG Bandara said a high level of participation in the survey will enable the Department to give an accurate estimate to the use of policymakers and planners. The survey can be accessed at the following link data.statistics.gov.lk/covidimpact/.