Some patterns of migration into major urban areas of Colombo district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to examine some patterns of migration into the five major urban areas in Colombo district, Sri Lanka, assessing a number of hypothesis on internal migration. The major source of data has been the 10 per cent sample of the 1971 Census. The study has several limitations due to the inadequate information in the 1971 Census statistics on migration. The whole study is divided into five chapters. Firstly, the study provides a review of existing studies on internal migration in Sri Lanka and discusses the importance of the study. Secondly, it builds up a conceptual framework to validate certain hypothesis on internal migration. Thirdly, the study focusses on the volume of migration by temporary and permanent type. The study investigates the two types of movement to five major urban areas in Colombo district. The patterns of migration streams and the role of distance are analysed in this section. Fourthly, the study discusses the patterns of age-sex composition of permanent migrants and the age-sex composition of permanent migrants by streams. Fifthly, the study examines the socio-economic characteristics of permanent migrants (more recent) by streams, and compares these characteristics with those of non migrants. By analysing the socio-economic variables, the selectivity and differentials of migrants were compared with the findings of studies in other countries. Finally, the study concludes with certain generalizations about urban migration in the Sri Lankan context. Show more