Controversy surrounds the last census in the Jaffna district, with Tamil political leaders now saying that it is incorrect. The problem however has arisen as the census indicates a drastic decline in the Tamil population in the country starting from Jaffna. The census conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics shows the Jaffna District as having a 583,071 population in 2012 compared to 734,474 persons in 1981. This is 151,403 persons less. TNA MP M. Sumanthiran, speaking to Lakbima news said that he believes there is a decline but that the statistics in the Jaffna District Statistical Hand Book 2011 are inaccurate. “I do not know the correct number of people who had migrated or were displaced but I consider the census  incorrect,” he said.Former government agent of the Jaffna district and now the additional secretary to the president, Mrs. Emelda Sukumar, who was a key player in getting the 2011 Jaffna district statistics published, told  Lakbima news that ‘to a certain extent’ there is an inaccuracy in the statistics with regard to the population because while the survey was conducted people were travelling ‘in search of employment,’ ‘looking for schools for their children in places far away from their homes’ and ‘better shelter elsewhere in the country.’”I believe there is a decline in the population. However, I would like to state that ‘there were problems’ when the survey was carried out but the data collected is accurate,” she said.She added that although her staff did their best, people were not at home and families had said that some of their members were settled elsewhere, had gone looking for jobs,  etc.; hence those persons were not included in the data. “There were hundreds of buses leaving for Colombo daily carrying people from Jaffna.” she said.