Does Caste Matter?

This study which is eighth in the CEPA working paper series attempts to understand if there is a caste dimension to poverty in Sinhalese society. It aims to provide a qualitative perspective on the poverty situation of lower caste communities and to inform the formulation of policies for poverty alleviation regarding the caste dimension of poverty. The findings of the study are based largely on primary data collected through semi-structured interviews with individual households and focus groups, complemented by participant observation. The total sample size was 59 households, with a focus on the lower caste sample of 34 households.