Poverty on gradual decline

The country's population segment below the poverty level has reduced to 15.2 per cent states an income and expenditure survey conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics in 2006 and 2007.

According to a survey conducted in 1995/1996, the country's poverty level which was 28.8 per cent has reduced to 22.7 per cent by the year 2002. Therefore, the poverty level has reduced by 33 per cent compared with the figures of 2002, a media release issued by the Government Information Department said yesterday.

The poverty level among the rural areas was 30.9 per cent, according to the survey conducted in 1995/1996. Nearly 80 per cent of the country's people live in rural areas.

The rural poverty which recorded 24.7 per cent in 2002 has reduced to 15.7 per cent in 2006 and 2007 indicating a 36 per cent decline. These three surveys have also confirmed there is a slight drop in the poverty level among the urban and rural population.

According to districtwise figures, the population below the poverty level in the Colombo district which was 12 per cent in 1995 and 1996 has reduced to 6.4 per cent in 2002. This has further reduced to 5.4 per cent in 2006 and 2007. In addition, a 31 per cent of poverty existence is recorded in the Hambantota district during the 1995 and 1996 has now declined to 12.7 per cent during the year 2006 and 2007.

Of the country's total population, 60 per cent live in the Western Province. The poverty level within the Western Province which was 16 per cent in 1995 and 1996 has reduced to 11 per cent in 2002. This has gradually reduced to 8 per cent during the year 2006 and 2007.

Meanwhile, figures from the Department of Census and Statistics revealed that the population below the poverty level in the Southern and North Western Province too had reduced by 50 per cent in 2006 and 2007 compared to the figures in 2002.