An Overview of Trends of Rural Poverty Condition in Sri Lanka Within Last Two Decades

Abstract

The poverty is the major social problem of third world rural societies and it has been created many social problems in the society. Thus Social disparity and social unrest have risen. Hence many rural societies in the developing countries have suffer from poverty and they have disorganized. According to the World Bank intention poverty is multidimensional concept. Thus to identify root causes of rural poverty have to pay attention about cultural and psychological aspects of rural human being as well as International trade policies and financial policies pertaining to the country. Sri Lanka has been given priority to State welfare and social development programs and have implemented many poverty alleviation programs since independence hence rural poverty has decline significantly. However regional disparities are high. Hence The United Nations has announced the year 2000 as the year to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger with collective effort through the Millennium development goals (MDGs) which expired 2015. The MDGs have not achieved targets as the expected level. In 2015 The UN introduced the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030. Further rural poverty negatively influenced to the human development as well as human capabilities and have been effected sustainable development in Sri Lanka. This paper attempt to analysis and identify significant variations and trends of rural poverty condition in Sri Lanka