Poverty down in April, says Govt.

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. 3,321 in April 2011.

According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the poverty line at national level is the minimum expenditure per person per month to fulfil basic needs.

Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts in the Western Province rank highest above the poverty line by personal expenditures per month of Rs. 3,700, Rs. 3,519 and Rs. 3,609 respectively.

Personal expenditures in the other districts above the poverty level are: Kandy (Rs. 3,403), Nuwara Eliya (Rs. 3,558), Galle (Rs. 3,415), Puttalam (Rs. 3,343), Badulla (Rs. 3,398 and Kegalle (Rs. 3,400).

          

Poverty levels in Matale (Rs. 3,288), Matara (Rs. 3,254), Hambantota (Rs. 3,201) Kurunegala (Rs. 3,243), Anuradhapura (Rs. 3,149), Polonnaruwa (Rs. 3,279), Monaragala (Rs. 3,145) and Ratnapura (Rs. 3,313) rank just below the poverty line.

These figures do not cover the Northern and Eastern Provinces.