The census program in Sri Lanka was put on hold on Saturday after local officials refused to budge, unless they are provided with an extra allowance, an official said.
The All-Island Federation of Grama Niladhari Officers has decided to withdraw from the ongoing population and housing census activities which commenced in November until they are provided with satisfactory allowances for their services, Secretary of the Association Jagath Chandralal said.
He however said that the mapping activities, which is the initial phase of the census have already been completed.
The 15th Population and Housing Census conducted every ten years commenced at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, making it the first edifice catalogues in the decennial census.
