The Development of Statistical Business Registers in SRI LANKA

Outline Structure of the SBR Information sources Technological environment Updating and maintenance processes Uses of statistical business registers Issues and challenges Ongoing initiatives and long-term plans

1. Structure of the SBR Sri Lanka’s SBR system is structured with following information Industry,Construction,Trade &Service Establishment Name, Address, Employment, Production of each unit is listed in 2013/2014 economic census listing process Total No. of units listed in this census process is -1,019,681 for the SBR We selected economic activities with more than 3 employees, It is approximately 150,000. Changes in the number of records over the years yet to be updated Sector covered Urban-36% Rural-62% Estate-2% Industry-41% Services-34% Trade-25% Classification used is SLSIC and CPC Local and foreign ownership of enterprises is yet to be identified. Enterprises engaged in international trade is yet to be identified.

Structure of the SBR cont. Our SBR team is made with following main stakeholders DCS-ROC-IRD-EPF DCS will do missing, analyzing, transforming it to databases process

SOURCES OF DATA DCS IRD RoC Tourist Board Provincial Council EPF

Information sources Currently Web based Servers with backups at ICT division of DCS is used for SBR. Data sharing agreements with the main stakeholders have been prepared. first set of data after the listing has been from IRD.

3. Technological environment Describe the IT and computing system in place to support the SBR Available Hardware system should be develop with new Hardware systems to accommodate more volume of data Developing software system is completed to suit local data availability(ADB) Presently stand alone at DCS but action should be taken to making network DCS data entry system is internally networked . Hoped to develop network system with stake holders. Durability or lifespan of the systems could be revised once in two years Discussion is underway to identify the backup Providers For the SBR system IT support is provided by ICT division of DCS We made provisions in the NSO’s proposal to provide long term support to SBR System To Safeguard and protect the data, We are preparing to include the clause in the MOU of stake holders

4. Updating and maintenance processes Data updating will be done Monthly Presently batch updating is under way and We will go for the online updating when online system is established The principal data sources proposed are DCS – Department of Census & Statistics RoC – Registrar of Companies IRD – Inland Revenue Department PBR - Provincial council Business Registry EPF - Employees Provident Fund NWS & DB – National Water Suppliers and Drainage Board CEB – Ceylon Electricity Board As the common system is not suitable for verification/validation therefor Taylor made programs will be used to verify existing information's and verification /validation procedures in place for adding/deleting records DCS, IT office modified the data entry programme to eliminate the out of scope and error reports. Periodical discussion is underway with data users and planners to include New data sources and variables. Under National Statistics System ,NSO will make arrangement to macro analysis and high level verification of the data in the SBR?

5. Uses of Statistical Business Registers Currently data stored in the SBR system at DCS but not officially launched. planners, researchers, private sector and DCS itself. In Sri Lanka information stored in SBR could be used for macro , micro, and socio economic development projects. Provisions are made in the NSS to expand and accommodate more data and information need for Sri Lanken government planners and researchers need. To date the benefits realized by SBR is, cleaning up of database prepared by DCS using 2013/14 economics census listing which is used for future surveys. SBR could support NSO to, Publish Statistics on the web site. Produce Statistics in CDs. Publish Statistical bulletins.

6. Issue and challenges The main issues and challenges faced in developing, maintaining and using the SBRs: Conducting awareness programs and providing training for main stakeholders Networking main stakeholders with limited access and private security for each stakeholders Legal and internal administrative framework of DCS and other stakeholders. Infrastructure of DCS and Main Stakeholders Economic census listing was done with economic units but stakeholders data files are in enteprices. Possible sustainable solutions to the issues and challenges noted Carry out a data needs assessment Hold regular data user/ producer workshop. Share relevant information with the planners so that they can appreciate the role of the SBR We expect multilateral organizations to play a major role in addressing these issues and challenges by providing funds , expert sharing and coordination

7. Ongoing initiatives and Long-term plans In Sri Lanka setting up of NSS (National Statistical System) is in initial stage and inclusion of SBR is highly recommended. Awareness programs, discussions and signing of MOUs underway with main stakeholders. Government of Sri Lanka had taken initiative to digitalize operations of main stakeholders (Ex. RoC) which will help operations of SBR

Ongoing initiatives and Long-term plans cont. To reduce the workload of SBR unit of DCS, DCS has geographically divided Sri Lanka in to nine provinces and appointed a statistician to each province with executive authority, sufficient staff and computers to work on SBR. Western province is getting large portion of them because most of the economic activities are located in this province. Presently these subunits are working on identifying enterprises with their branches spread over many parts of Sri Lanka After profiling this process we expect to launch the project by 1st quarter of 2017. We will include the newly born economic units after 2016 January using IRD data base The action plan for the next 5 years of SBR is under preparation