This was ordered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies.

The 15th Population and Housing Census of the country was scheduled to be held in the year 2021.

However, the government took steps to postpone this due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A population and housing census is to be conducted again for the years 2023-2024.

The first population and housing census in Sri Lanka was conducted in 1871 and the last population and housing census was conducted in 2012.