Statistics of extreme poverty in Sri Lanka's Western Province

(September 24, 2010) Sri Lanka’s Western Provincial Council has decided to increase the poverty concession to Rs. 1000 per month since 2011.

Now, the extremely poor people of the Western Province are paid Rs. 350, an amount less than three US dollars per month.

The poverty concession per a person per month is Rs. 150, just above one dollar per month and the maximum paid for a family so far is Rs. 350.

There were 72,028 recipients of this poverty concession in 2009, according to Western Provincial Council statistics.

Announcing the budget of the Western Provincial Council for 2011, Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said yesterday that the council would spend Rs. 576.5 million for poverty concession.

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Posted in concession , poverty , Western Province

350,000 Sri Lankans are in extreme poverty

(February 03, 2009) The Ministry of Social Security and Social Welfare data points out that island wide there are 350,000 recipients of social security payments to the poor.

Deputy Minister of Social Services, Lionel Premasiri says that these payments are for no income earners and they will be increased up to Rs.1,000 by budget.

These people belong to the category of people affected by extreme poverty. The payments made by the state for them are adequate to feed them a few meals. Most of them are victims of malnutrition and many other deceases.

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Posted in poverty , social security payment