National poverty line eases in Feb.

Tuesday, 7 April 2026 01:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s national poverty line increased to Rs. 16,730 per person per month in January, up from Rs. 16,334 a year earlier, before easing to Rs. 16,571 in February, according to official district-level estimates released by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The poverty line, which reflects the minimum monthly expenditure required to meet basic food and non-food needs, continues to show a gradual upward trend on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, although month-on-month (MoM) data indicate a slight moderation in February.

District-level data show broadly consistent movements across the country. Colombo recorded the highest poverty threshold at Rs. 18,044 in January, declining to Rs. 17,872 in February, reflecting higher living costs in urban areas. Gampaha, Kalutara, and Nuwara Eliya also remained among districts with relatively elevated poverty lines.

At the lower end, Monaragala reported the lowest poverty line at Rs. 15,997 in January and Rs. 15,845 in February, followed by Kilinochchi and Hambantota, underscoring regional variations in price levels and consumption patterns.

Across most districts, January figures reflected an increase of roughly Rs. 380-430 compared with January 2025, consistent with a gradual rise in the cost of basic consumption. However, the February decline across districts suggests some easing in short-term price pressures.

Overall, the data point to a moderate increase in minimum consumption costs over the past year, with recent monthly movements indicating limited volatility and largely stable price conditions across regions before the Middle East war broke out on 28 February.