DCS kicks off first-ever survey on IT and BPM in Sri Lanka

• Month-long key initiative to capture the real economic contribution of IT industry to GDP

The Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) yesterday kicked off an Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Management (BPM) Services Survey to capture the real economic contribution of IT industry to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.  

The online survey system will be opened until 5 January 2020.

The DCS is the National Statistical Office in Sri Lanka mainly responsible for compilation and dissemination of statistical data which cater the requirements of the country. For this task, the Department continuously conducts socio economic surveys and censuses to collect accurate and timely information on population, industries, trade, services, agriculture, prices and other demographic information (labour force, household income and expenditure, health). In addition, the DCS is the authorised Government institution in compiling quarterly and annual National Accounts Estimates (mainly GDP and economic growth rate) and other macroeconomic indicators of the country. 

IT and BPM industry has played an important role as an emerging industry to the Sri Lankan economy, showing impressive growth trends in revenue generation, work force, and increased number of companies involved in the industry in the past decades. At present IT and BPM industries are the most popular industries in the job market among the younger generation. 

DCS kicks...

As a result of the popularity existing in the industry in revenue generation and also in the youth job market, the DCS decided to capture the value addition of this IT and BPM industry to the national economy, by capturing data and information from the IT and BPM related companies directly through an establishment survey. 

The DCS has arranged this survey covering large and medium scale (companies with more than 10 employees) IT and BPM sector companies operating in the country in order to measure their economic contribution to the economy. The DCS designed the survey with the help of leading IT Industry Associations (SLASSCom, FITIS) in the country and with the collaborative support of the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA). This task will be useful to assess the current status of the IT and BPM industries and their contribution to the national economy. 

Currently the National Accounts Division of DCS is preparing for the next Rebasing process of National Accounts Estimates of Sri Lanka to the year of 2015 from the current Base year of 2010. Thus DCS is planning to upgrade the compilation methodologies and data sources further specially in emerging services related economic activities. The information collected through this survey will be incorporated to the Rebasing process of National Accounts Estimates to measure the real value addition of this IT/ BPM industry to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

The DCS collects this information under the Statistics Ordinance as amended in year 2000 and DCS highly assures the confidentiality of individual information. 

The DCS has taken the necessary steps to conduct this survey through a web-based survey approach. Well-qualified ICT professionals in ICT Division of the DCS have developed this highly-secured online survey system, assuring confidentiality of the company information.  Depending on the company’s choice, there are two options to join with the survey: either through online survey system or by emailing the completed survey questionnaire.

All the companies selected for this survey may receive an invitation email from the Director General of Department of Census and Statistics to join with the survey in the near future.

The DCS is inviting companies to join with the survey by filling up the questionnaire or visiting the online survey. It plans to share the key results of this valuable survey after producing final results, which will be very useful to promote IT services in the country.

DCS has asked all selected to partner in this national endeavour and give their company’s fullest support to make this event a success.