Sri Lanka, July 16 -- President, Population Association of Sri Lanka | Professor of Demography, University of Colombo

Every year on July 11, the world marks World Population Day, a reminder that population trends are not merely about numbers but about people, opportunities and the future of societies.

The 2026 World Population Day theme - "Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people - today and for the future" - highlights a simple but powerful message: the future of every nation depends on the opportunities available to its young people today.

For Sri Lanka, this message has never been more relevant.

The country is undergoing one of the most profound demographic shifts in its history. Falling birth rates, a rapidly agein...