Sri Lanka’s poverty line surpasses Rs. 17,700 as cost of living rises

By The Pulseline News Desk

Sri Lanka’s official national poverty line rose to Rs. 17,742 per person per month in September 2026, reflecting the continued increase in the cost of meeting basic needs, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The latest figure represents an increase of approximately 8.1% compared with the Rs. 16,413 recorded in September 2025, highlighting the mounting cost pressures facing households across the country.

The national poverty line represents the minimum monthly expenditure required per person to meet basic needs. Individuals whose monthly expenditure falls below this threshold are classified as living in poverty.

District-level figures reveal significant variations in the cost of maintaining a basic standard of living across the country.

Colombo recorded the highest poverty line in September at Rs. 19,136 per person per month, followed by Gampaha at Rs. 19,037 and Kalutara at Rs. 18,624.

At the other end of the scale, Monaragala recorded the lowest figure at Rs. 16,965, followed by Badulla at Rs. 17,238 and Hambantota at Rs. 17,315.

The long-term trend also illustrates the substantial increase in the expenditure required to meet basic needs over the past decade.

Sri Lanka’s national poverty line stood at Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13 before rising to Rs. 6,117 in 2016 and Rs. 6,966 in 2019.

However, the increase accelerated considerably in subsequent years. By September 2025, the figure had climbed to Rs. 16,413, before reaching Rs. 17,742 a year later.

The September 2026 figure is more than three times the 2019 level, underscoring the significant change in the cost of basic living requirements.

The poverty line is an important statistical indicator used to assess living standards and monitor poverty trends. However, an increase in the poverty line does not, by itself, indicate how many additional people have fallen into poverty.

The latest figures come as the country continues to grapple with elevated living costs and the challenge of improving household purchasing power following the economic crisis.