Poverty down in nine districts

In keeping with the trend of reduction in poverty in Sri Lanka, the average income levels in nine districts in six provinces exceeded the poverty line of Rs. 3072, in May 2010.

Policy Research & Information Unit of the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka said quoting the Department of Census and Statistics that 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.3423, Rs. 3255 and Rs.3338 respectively.

Personal expenditures in the other districts above the poverty level are: Kandy (Rs.3148), Nuwara Eliya (Rs. 3292), Galle (Rs.3159), Puttalam (Rs.3092), Badulla (Rs.3144) and Kegalle (Rs.3145).

Poverty levels in Matale (Rs.3042), Matara (Rs.3010), Hambantota (Rs.2961) Kurunegala (Rs.3000), Anuradhapura (Rs.2913), Polonnaruwa (Rs.3034), Moneragala (Rs.2909) and Rathnapura (Rs.3065) rank just below the poverty line.

The poverty line at national level rose rapidly since the 2002 level of Rs.1423. It was Rs.2845 in 2008, Rs 2942 in 2009, Rs.2968 in 2009 September, Rs.2980 in 2009 October, Rs. 3003 in 2009 November, Rs.3038 in 2009 December, Rs.3079 in 2010 January, Rs.3087 in 2010 February, Rs.3057 in 2010 March, Rs.3025 in 2010 April and is Rs.3027 in 2010 May.

These figures do not cover the Northern and Eastern Provinces.