Sajith Questions Use of Outdated Poverty Data Ahead of November 12 Budget

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has questioned how the government intends to present the Budget on November 12 without what he described as accurate and up-to-date data on poverty and household income and expenditure in Sri Lanka.

Addressing a meeting with Colombo District organisers of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and local government representatives, Premadasa criticised a recently released 104-page socio-economic data publication compiled by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Department of Census and Statistics.

He claimed that while the report contains data from 2023, 2024 and 2025 in several sections, the sections relating to poverty rely on data from 2016 and 2019. The Central Bank confirms that its Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka – 2026 includes tables based on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), including poverty indicators and dietary energy consumption for 2016 and 2019.

Premadasa said that poverty-related policies and the poverty line were being formulated using the older HIES data. The Department of Census and Statistics states that the HIES is conducted every three years and is used to measure household income and expenditure, living conditions and poverty-related indicators; its currently listed HIES results include the 2016 and 2019 surveys.

He further alleged that both the previous and current governments had provided Aswesuma welfare assistance without conducting a new household income and expenditure survey following the country's economic crisis in 2022.

Claim of 65.4% Poverty Rate

Premadasa also referred to what he described as World Bank figures, claiming that Sri Lanka's poverty rate was 65.4%, with a requirement of US$8.30, or approximately Rs. 2,724 per person per day, to meet basic needs.

These figures were presented as claims by Premadasa in his remarks. A report by Newswire likewise records that he attributed the figures to the World Bank.

He contrasted this with the figure of approximately Rs. 17,315 per person for 30 days that he said was reflected in government-related data, questioning the basis for the different measurements.

Premadasa also claimed that 33% of Sri Lankan households were facing severe food insecurity and argued that updated household income and expenditure information was necessary for effective policymaking.

Questions Over 2026 Human Development Data

Premadasa further questioned how current human development comparisons could be made if poverty-related information continued to rely on older household survey data.

He said the government's publication presents Sri Lanka as having a relatively high level of human development and compares the country with Asian, SAARC and G7 countries, but questioned the validity of making such comparisons while relying on older poverty data.

He called for updated information on household income, expenditure and poverty to be made available before the November 12 Budget.

Note: The criticisms and the 65.4%, US$8.30 and 33% figures above are attributed to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. They should not be presented as independently verified facts without the underlying World Bank source and methodology. The official DCS records confirm that the currently published HIES poverty data are based on survey periods including 2016 and 2019.