Poverty dips

Income levels in nine districts exceed poverty line:

The average income levels in nine districts in six provinces exceeded the poverty line of Rs 3,290 in January 2011.

This is in keeping with the downward trend of poverty in Sri Lanka.

According to the Census and Statistics Department, the poverty line at national level is the minimum expenditure per person per month to fulfill basic needs. Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts in the Western Province rank highest above the poverty line by personal expenditures per month of Rs 3,665, Rs 3,486 and Rs 3,575.

Personal expenditures in the other districts above the poverty level are: Kandy (Rs 3,371), Nuwara Eliya (Rs 3,525), Galle (Rs 3,383), Puttalam (Rs 3,311), Badulla (Rs 3,367) and Kegalle (Rs 3,369).

Poverty levels in Matale (Rs 3,257), Matara (Rs 3,224), Hambantota (Rs 3,171) Kurunegala (Rs 3,213), Anuradhapura (Rs 3,119), Polonnaruwa (Rs 3,249), Moneragala (Rs 3,116) and Rathnapura (Rs 3,282) rank just below the poverty line.

The poverty line at national level rose rapidly in these districts. In May 2010 it was Rs 3,042 in Matale, Rs 3,010 in Matara, Rs 2,961 in Hambantota, Rs 3,000 in Kurunegala, Rs 2,913 in Anuradhapura, Rs 3,034 in Polonnaruwa, Rs 2,909 in Moneragala and Rs 3,065 in Rathnapura. The poverty line at national level also rose rapidly since the 2002 level of Rs 1,423. It was Rs 2,845 in 2008, Rs 2,942 in 2009, Rs 3,117 in 2010, Rs 3,027 in May 2010, Rs 3,098 in June 2010, Rs 3,097 in July 2010, Rs 3,111 in August 2010, Rs 3,141 in September 2010, Rs 3,178 in October 2010, Rs 3,213 in November 2010 and Rs 3,249 in December 2010.

These figures do not cover the Northern and Eastern Provinces. priu.gov.lk