Livelihoods and Poverty in Sri Lanka

The incidence of poverty varies depending on the definition used and the source of data. Between 20 – 40 % of the population of Sri Lanka is estimated to be in income poverty. There are also wide variations in poverty incidence in the country and chronic poverty is endemic in many regions. Poor economic and social infrastructure and limited non-agricultural income opportunities in some rural areas, too, account for the higher continuing incidence of poverty. Produced for OXFAM Great Britain by the Centre for Poverty Analysis, the series of briefs to which this volume belongs, aims to provide a macro overview of key thematic areas relating to poverty, of relevance to Oxfam’s work in Sri Lanka.