National poverty line rises to Rs. 16,730 in Jan.

Saturday, 7 March 2026 00:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s national poverty line increased to Rs. 16,730 per person per month in January 2026, up from Rs. 16,334 a year earlier, according to official district-level estimates.

The poverty line represents the minimum monthly expenditure required for an individual to meet basic food and non-food needs and is used as the benchmark for measuring poverty in the country.

The data show a broadly similar pattern across districts, with most recording increases of roughly Rs. 380–Rs. 430 compared with January 2025, indicating a gradual rise in the cost of basic consumption.

Colombo continued to record the highest poverty threshold at Rs. 18,044 per person per month, reflecting higher living costs in the capital and surrounding urban areas. Gampaha, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya were also among districts with relatively higher poverty lines.

At the other end, Moneragala recorded the lowest poverty line at Rs. 15,997, followed by Kilinochchi and Hambantota, highlighting differences in price levels and consumption patterns across regions.

Overall, the figures suggest a moderate year-on-year increase in the minimum cost of basic consumption requirements across the country, with variations largely reflecting regional price differences rather than sharp shifts in living costs.