News Today: Colombo records highest poverty line among all districts

In a revealing update that underscores the financial struggles faced by many Sri Lankans, Colombo records highest poverty line in February 2025, according to the latest data released by the Department of Census and Statistics. This update has placed Colombo at the top of Sri Lanka’s poverty rankings, with the poverty line in the district set at Rs. 17,599, the highest among all districts.

The official poverty line, which is recalculated monthly to reflect changes in consumer costs, represents the minimum monthly income needed by an individual to meet basic living expenses. For the month of February 2025, the national average poverty line is recorded at Rs. 16,318.

This means a family of four must earn at least Rs. 65,272 per month to cover their basic needs. In stark contrast, Monaragala District reported the lowest poverty line for February at Rs. 15,603, highlighting the regional disparities in living costs and economic hardship.

Officials have attributed the slight decrease in the national poverty line to a dip in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), indicating a mild easing in the cost of essential goods and services compared to January 2025. However, the consistently high cost of living in urban centers like Colombo continues to outpace many other areas, reflecting deeper socioeconomic divides.

As Sri Lanka works toward economic recovery, these figures serve as a sobering reminder of the real-world impacts inflation and living costs have on its citizens. The rising poverty indicators, especially in key metropolitan regions, are expected to inform policy shifts in upcoming national and local planning agendas.