Abstract:
This study examines the internal migration patterns and trends of females in Sri Lanka in
1981 and 1994 and identifies popular destinations of female migrants in 1994 and their
streams. It also investigates into the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of
the female migrants in the identified areas, determinants and possible consequences of
migration and highlights the link between the improvement in socio-economic status of
women and internal migration. Place of birth method was used to identify the migrants
using data from the 1981 Population of Census and Housing and the 1994 Demographic
Survey. Appropriateness of the 1994 survey data for migration analysis was studied in
detail and the 1981 census data set was adjusted accordingly.
Percentage of male lifetime migrants to the Sri Lanka born male population had
decreased marginally while the percentage of female lifetime migrants to the Sri Lanka
born female population had increased significantly. Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam,
Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Moneragala districts have been designated as the six
popular destinations of female migrants in 1994 and their major streams of migration
have been identified. Movements of the females in the six popular migrant destinations
are much prominent in the labour force age groups. One tenth of the female migrants are
the heads of the households. Majority of the female migrants are currently married. The
incidence of marriage dissolution is higher among the in-migrants than non-migrants. The
general level of education of migrants is higher than the non-migrants. Labour force
participation of the in-migrants is more than that of the non-migrants. Majority of the
female migrants are engaged in agriculture, manufacturing and elementary occupations.
Large proportion of females migrated for employment and the possible positive and
negative consequences of such behaviour have been examined. As women constitute a
significantly large portion of internal migrants, more data has to be collected on the
determinants and consequences of migration and more research has to be done on internal
migration focusing on the interrelation between internal migration of females and the
improvement of their socio-economic status.
