Nearly one in four people in Sri Lanka is living in poverty, according to findings from surveys conducted by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), said Dr. Ganeshan Wignarajah, Senior Fellow at ODI Global.
Speaking at the launch of the report titled “Sustaining Transformational Economic Growth in Sri Lanka 2025–2030,” Dr. Wignarajah emphasized that Sri Lanka must undertake wide-ranging reforms across multiple sectors of the economy in order to effectively address the poverty challenge.
The report, jointly supported by the Centre for Poverty Analysis and ODI Global, was prepared by an independent research team and was unveiled recently at a Colombo-based institution.
It presents a policy framework focused on structural reforms and poverty reduction, aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s post-crisis economic recovery and ensuring long-term, inclusive growth.
Adding to the discussion, Yvette Fernando, former Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, highlighted the absence of a coordinated national strategy to drive such reforms.
She noted that while various groups are currently implementing fragmented initiatives—some of which are producing positive outcomes—the lack of central coordination limits their overall impact. Fernando stressed that bringing these efforts under a unified national plan, with proper oversight, monitoring, and accountability, would significantly enhance results.
She further proposed that the government should take the lead by working closely with the private sector, establishing dedicated committees and a commission to oversee the implementation of a centralized national action plan, a recommendation also outlined in the report.
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