Papers by Indralal De Silva
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies
Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies
The Sri Lankan law only permits induced or iatrogenic abortion to save the life of the mother. De... more The Sri Lankan law only permits induced or iatrogenic abortion to save the life of the mother. Despite the restricted law, law enforcement mechanisms, and reported high national contraceptive prevalence rate, a significant proportion of pregnant women terminate their pregnancy outside the law. Despite the existence of restrictions and inertia, numerous stakeholders concerned about women’s health have made several attempts to liberalize the abortion law in Sri Lanka. Although several amendments were proposed to rationalize the abortion law in Sri Lanka, nothing has been successful – we are back to square one. Expansion of legal exceptions for induced abortions and improved safe abortion with the revolutionized medical abortion (MA) were observed in numerous countries globally during the past decade. On the other hand, some countries with broadly liberal laws, including the United States, have added restrictions. How these global changes have affected countries like Sri Lanka is worth...
South Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
Initiation and continuation of healthy relationships among youth critical for the long-term wellb... more Initiation and continuation of healthy relationships among youth critical for the long-term wellbeing of the youth. Present socio-cultural environment presents numerous pitfalls which inhibit such relationships. Aim of this qualitative investigation was to describe the current status, trends and patterns of love affairs, dating and sexual behaviour among unmarried youth in Sri Lanka. Case studies, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were selected as methods of data collection. Thematic analysis was used. Four themes were generated, namely initiation of love affairs; dating and sexual behaviour, preferences, pattern and places; phycological, physical and sexual issues and violence related to love affairs and dating behaviour; assistance and advice on issues, problems in love affairs, dating and sexual behaviour. One of the key issues identified was lack of reliable person to seek advice for issues related to love affairs, dating and sexual behaviour among youth. Unma...
This thesis analyses the overall migration trends and patterns in Sri Lanka to identify the most ... more This thesis analyses the overall migration trends and patterns in Sri Lanka to identify the most popular migration destinations in the country. For this purpose data from the ten percent sample of the 1971 and 1981 censuses were used. Two dominant migration streams were observed: one in the wet zone to Colombo Region, and another in the dry zone to North Central Province (NCP). Since NCP and Colombo Region currently contain the leading development programs of the country, the Mahaweli and the Investment Promotion Zones respectively, the migration trends and patterns of these areas were examined in more detail. The study thus has highlighted some of the desirable and undesirable effects of the leading development programs on population redistribution in the
Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2021
Emerging preliminary data alarmed on an intensive increase of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic ac... more Emerging preliminary data alarmed on an intensive increase of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe. This article presents findings from a mixed-method approach identifying the changing nature of IPV during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. Quantitative secondary data identified a rapid increase of complaints on violence against women (VAW) in Sri Lanka and Kalutara District with the implementation of island-wide lockdown restrictions. As qualitative data revealed IPV tends to be associated with childhood maltreatment, economic difficulties, stress, lack of social skills and empathy, infidelity and intimacy problems, excessive interference of co-residents, and alcohol and psychoactive drugs even before the pandemic. But, loss of income, increased stress, increased intimacy problems, alcohol addiction and using alcohol, and binge-watching of television by husband identified to be significant factors contributing to a higher incidence of IPV during the...
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 1994
"The objective of this article is...to examine the demographic characteristics and emerg... more "The objective of this article is...to examine the demographic characteristics and emergence of new challenges of the fast growing elderly population in Sri Lanka." Results indicate that "the combination of low fertility and increased survival in Sri Lanka during the last four decades ensures that there will be large and rapid increases in the elderly population. Although the traditional family support system for the elderly still exists, modernization has an adverse impact on the care and support traditionally provided by families.... The study examines possible socio-economic implications of ageing to enable policy makers to be prepared for problems that are likely to emerge."
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 2011
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 2001
Since the 1960s Sri Lanka has shown a significant decline in its fertility. The researchers quest... more Since the 1960s Sri Lanka has shown a significant decline in its fertility. The researchers questioned whether all ethnic groups in the country’s multiracial multireligious and multilinguistic population were part of the decline. It is noted that the effective fertility trends of any society are influenced by various factors such as the relative number of child-bearing females and males; their nuptial behavior; attitudes towards child-bearing outside marriage; conception control practices and attitudes; the related sociocultural and biological characteristics of the population and the religious attitudes of and health facilities in the communities. In Sri Lanka though two main factors have contributed directly to fertility decline among the ethnic groups. These are the increase in the average age at marriage and the increasing use of contraception. It was noted that the Moors seemed less susceptible to these changes than other groups. However there are still pockets of high fertility in each ethnic group. Therefore it is important to identify high fertility performance and implement specially designed family planning activities suitable for such cultures in order to complement and strengthen acceptance of ongoing social change.
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 2001
The high level and quality of prenatal care is in stark contrast to the woeful inadequacy of post... more The high level and quality of prenatal care is in stark contrast to the woeful inadequacy of postnatal care By W. Indralal De Silva and Deok Jin Ban* In Sri Lanka, a well-organized system of maternal and child health services provides care to mothers and children. However, the services provided before delivery differ markedly from those following delivery, when most of the care and attention is bestowed on the newborn and not on the
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 1994
Sri Lanka is now at the stage of fertility transition where it is approaching below replacement l... more Sri Lanka is now at the stage of fertility transition where it is approaching below replacement level fertility. The total fertility rate for 1988-93 was 2.3 children per woman. Fertility was low, even though only 66% of currently married women were practicing contraception. The low fertility despite a contraceptive use rate lower than the 71% needed for replacement level fertility may have been achieved in part due to reliance on induced abortion in large numbers. During 1960-90 Sri Lanka has experienced the highest rate of fertility decline compared with other South Asian countries. Demographic transition occurred according to the pattern of initial declines in the death rate since 1947. Births did not begin to decline until 1960 (from 37 per 1000 in 1960 to 20 per 1000 in 1970). Family planning efforts were expanded during 1968-77 and integrated into maternal and child health programs. The 1972-76 Five Year Plan recognized the importance of family planning in the context of low standards of living and malnutrition, which could decrease health standards and increase infant mortality. Around 1980 cash incentives were given for sterilization acceptors. The government was repeatedly aware of the link between available resources and the demands of an increasing population. The Ministry of Health targeted zero population growth by the year 2050 and a two child family average by the year 2000. Stabilization of population in 2050 at 25 million would be an increase from 18.6 million in 1993. One of the signs of permanent fertility decline was the large declines in fertility during 1975-87 in the older reproductive age groups. By 1987-93 large declines were apparent in older and younger age groups. Family limitation was begun at relatively early ages. The inference from fertility declines during the 1980s recorded in the Demographic and Health Surveys in 1987 and 1993 is that the total fertility rate for 1991-93 was 2.06, which is lower than replacement level fertility of 2.1.
Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 2005
... This trend could be noted as" feminization of poverty" in which the poorest... more ... This trend could be noted as" feminization of poverty" in which the poorest quartiles ... The negative consequences of labour exports, particularly of female migration, have led to vocal ... hitherto performed by females only, particularly in families where married women have migrated. ...
Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies, 2016
(IHP) is an independent research institution, and a regional centre of excellence for health poli... more (IHP) is an independent research institution, and a regional centre of excellence for health policy research, working to improve health and social systems in Sri Lanka and the wider region, by supporting, encouraging and informing policy change, through quality research, analysis and training. Consistent with the Institute's mission, we intend that as much of our research as possible is widely accessible, with the intention of stimulating discussion and comment, and to inform a wider audience of ongoing IHP research. We do this primarily by making most of our publications available online for free download via the IHP website (http://www.ihp.lk).
Studies in Family Planning, 1991
Data collected in the 1982 Sri Lanka Contraceptive Prevalence Survey and the 1985 Sri Lanka Contr... more Data collected in the 1982 Sri Lanka Contraceptive Prevalence Survey and the 1985 Sri Lanka Contraceptive Survey, a follow-up study, were used to examine the reliability of respondents' preferences for additional children. At the aggregate level, consistency was remarkable: In 1982, 47 percent of women said they wanted more children and in 1985, 49 percent had more, for a slight excess of actual over wanted fertility. Even though inconsistencies existed, at the individual level preferences were moderately predictive of subsequent behavior. Unwanted fertility was related not only to the demographic characteristics of the women but also to disagreement with their husbands on desired fertility. More of those who believed that their husbands wanted additional children than those who believed otherwise reported births in the follow-up period. Nonusers of contraception were over three times more likely than contraceptors using modern methods to have had an unwanted birth.
Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies, 2014
The general objective of this study is to elucidate the level of computer literacy and exposure t... more The general objective of this study is to elucidate the level of computer literacy and exposure to the internet among Sri Lankan youth aged 15-29 years based on their main economic activity. In order to achieve this objective a two-layered data collection approach was adopted as the overall methodology of the 2009 National Youth Survey. Quantitative data was collected from a randomly selected sample of 3000 households covering 22 districts out of a total of 25 districts. The conclusions reached from this study were that out of 2921 respondents 57% of youth were computer literate. Out of the 18-24 age group 65% could manage basic functions of the computer as opposed to the 25-29 year olds where only a 43% demonstrated knowledge in computer usage. This indicates that the older group had a lesser opportunity at gaining computer knowledge, which is a fairly recent development in Sri Lanka. It was also revealed that 33% of youth who have a basic knowledge in computer usage have their own computers while 33% have used the internet. In terms of usage and frequency out of the 57% youth who are computer literate 50% use their computers on a daily/weekly basis.
Studies in Family Planning, 1991
Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 2006
Wang had in 1965 chaired the Nanyang University Curriculum Review Committee that recommended inte... more Wang had in 1965 chaired the Nanyang University Curriculum Review Committee that recommended inter alia diversifying Nantah's languages of instruction and curricula, while also urging acceptance by the institution of students from all language streams in the country.
Child Indicators Research
Unexpectedly, Sri Lanka started demonstrating an increase in fertility, since the early part of t... more Unexpectedly, Sri Lanka started demonstrating an increase in fertility, since the early part of the new millennium. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 5.3 births per woman in the 1950s which declined to 3.4 in 1981 and further to 1.9 during the period 1995–2000 unexpectedly soared to the 2.3 level as evidenced by the 2006–07 DHS. Observed fertility increase continued and reached TFR of 2.4 by 2012, which is the ever-reported highest value during the past 15–20 years. This trend is a result of several factors including a change in “value of children.” The declining trend in the mean age at marriage and contraceptive prevalence during the past decade may have contributed to this unexpected trend. Data collected during the past 15–20 years have shown an increase in the perceived benefits from children. Many pro-natal sympathizers justify pronatalistic activities by arguing that the country needs more births. A large proportion of couples prefer to have two or three children. Having experienced natural (tsunami) and man-made (civil strife by Tamil and Muslim extremists) disasters, most couples have revised their fertility preferences. Apart from these factors, all main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka are concerned about their share in the country’s overall population, which would have also contributed to the change in the value of children in contemporary Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences
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Papers by Indralal De Silva