Sri Lanka poverty line for March 2026 is Rs.16,690 per person, Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha tells Parliament.
Sri Lanka poverty line for March 2026 has been officially recorded at Rs. 16,690 per person, Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Anil Jayantha told Parliament.
He made the statement yesterday, May 19, while responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
According to the Deputy Minister, the figure has been calculated using data updated for March 2026.
He said the official national poverty line is based on the National Consumer Price Index and represents the monthly expenditure required for one person to live with minimum basic facilities.
Dr. Anil Jayantha explained that this amount includes the estimated cost needed to meet the minimum nutritional requirement of 2,013 kilocalories per person per day.
It also includes other essential basic needs required for minimum living conditions.
The Deputy Minister further stated that the poverty line differs slightly at district level.
In the Colombo District, he said the monthly poverty line value for one individual is approximately Rs. 18,100.
He explained that if a person’s monthly expenditure falls below the poverty line value applicable to the district in which they live, that person is officially considered poor.
Dr. Anil Jayantha also stated that the minimum monthly expenditure required for a family of four to live with minimum basic facilities is Rs. 66,760.
He added that this figure varies by district, ranging from Rs. 63,832 to Rs. 72,000 in Colombo.
