Dr. H R A Menike
Department of Economics
University of Kelaniya
Dr. H R A Menike completed her PhD in Economics in March 2011, at the University of Pune, India under the supervision of Professor K.R. Sanap at the same university. Her topic of the research is, “A Study of Demographic Transition and Economic Development in Sri Lanka since 1963 to 2007”
The main purpose of the research was to observe the impact of demographic transition on the economic development in Sri Lanka during the period 1963 to 2007. The study reveals that, there is a considerable impact of demographic transition on the economic development in Sri Lanka during the said period. She has also identified that although, there has been a bulge increase of the labour force in Sri Lanka within the study period, and it was observed that the country has been unsuccessful to obtain the maximum benefits of this increased labour force towards the economic expansion. As a result of the demographic transition, the ageing population of the country appears to be increasing gradually. When we consider the impact of this ageing, population against the economic growth of the country, the study exposed that the issues of ageing population in the rural sector has become crucial when compared with the urban sector. Therefore, the ageing population in the rural sector will cause a higher impact on the economic development of the country in the near future.