‘Of 07mn living in poverty, 04mn victims of GR’s policies’

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Harsha de Silva says the government has to adopt measures to arrest the increase in the number of people living in poverty.Responding to The Island query in this regard, the economist said that he addressed this issue in Parliament last Friday (09)

In his address to Parliament, MP de Silva shed light on the alarming state of poverty in Sri Lanka. Referring to the latest findings by LirneAsia, the MP pointed out that a staggering 07 million Sri Lankans currently live in poverty. Of them approximately 04 million individuals, accounting for around 17% of the population, had fallen into poverty since 2019 thanks to misguided policies of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government.

MP Harsha highlighted the profound impact of this dire situation on the daily lives of families. The lawmaker recounted the poignant words of a distressed mother who shared her struggle, saying, “I used to buy all the food her four-year-old baby needed, but now I couldn’t even buy half of what I used to. Even a bun….She used to eat baby rusks, which used to cost Rs. 30.00, but now it’s around Rs. 140.”

The MP said that about 47% of households have been compelled to reduce their food consumption in order to make ends meet.

Declaring that the consequences of poverty extended far beyond hunger, MP Harsha de Silva emphasised that in 27% of households, parents had been forced to sacrifice their own meals to ensure that their children were fed. Equally troubling was the fact that 6% of households with children aged 5-18 had been unable to send their kids to school. Quoting a survey participant, the MP said, “About half the boys in the nearby estate have dropped out of school. They take on odd jobs in the area and can earn about Rs. 200 if someone calls them.

These distressing statistics underscore the urgent need to address poverty in Sri Lanka.”

MP Harsha de Silva called for a united effort among Members of Parliament to raise awareness and support initiatives aimed at alleviating this crisis. He emphasized that no child should go hungry or be deprived of an education. It is imperative that policymakers work diligently to make a meaningful difference in the lives of fellow citizens.