Colombo and Gampaha continue to attract the largest share of internal migrants in Sri Lanka with over 40% of the country’s 3.1 million movers relocating primarily for marriage, data from the Population and Housing Census 2024 shows.
Employment accounted for 17% of internal migration, while 16% moved due to family needs, and 11% returned to their permanent residences.
Smaller proportions were driven by education, resettlement, and disaster-related factors.
It also highlights that marriage has emerged as the leading cause of internal migration across most districts, reinforcing social and cultural patterns that continue to shape the movement of populations within Sri Lanka.
Analysts note that these trends have significant implications for urban planning, housing, and public services in high-migration areas like Colombo and Gampaha, where growing populations are placing pressure on infrastructure and resources.
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