The loss of active life due to mortality in Sri Lanka has shown a clear downward trend during the period from 1968 to 2001. However, the net years of active life for males have not increased during this period due to the fact that male labour force participation rates have declined during 1971 and 2001. This decline may partly be due to some marginal categories of the employed being included in the not economically active population. In the case of females, however, the increase in the participation rates and the definite downward trend in mortality have resulted in the increase in net active life.

Pneumonia and Septicaemia are two diseases that seem to cause greater loss of working life due to death. Acute Myocardial Infraction, other Heart Diseases and other Diseases of the Liver, although cause higher number of years lost, have relatively high mean age at death than Pneumonia and Septicaemia thus resulting in a lower loss of working life. The analysis therefore, reveals that in order to improve labour productivity of the workforce through health care, health policies and programmes should focus on reducing the mortality caused by diseases that affect the young population who are more educated and have more years of working life. It is equally important to take note of the health issues of the working population over 45 years of age who are the more experience and skilled segment of the workforce and who are more likely to suffer from degenerative diseases. Thus health programmes should also make provision to screen the older segment of the workforce for degenerative diseases, particularly for hypertension and diabetes and provide treatment as a means to secondary prevention of disability and death.

http://www.ihp.lk/publications/docs/SKMBT.pdf