Contribution of Samurdhi program to alleviate rural poverty in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Despite Sri Lanka has achieved impressive results in human development indicators over the decades, continuously it has encountered difficulties in its battle against poverty. Since independence, the country has recovered significantly, mainly through the implementation of various social empowerment programs. However, the poverty in Sri Lanka is still widespread and acute and is generally a rural phenomenon. Sri Lanka has a long history of social empowerment programs and food subsidies in particular. Like many other countries, the government of Sri Lanka has several poverty alleviation programs. The largest one of these is the Samurdhi program which was introduced in 1995. The Samurdhi program consists of six major components. There is a welfare program, social insurance support to the poor to protect during extreme situations, savings, and financial assistance, Spiritual and social development programs, Infrastructure development programs, human resource development programs. Secondary data will be collected mainly from journals, textbooks, and central bank reports. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques. Failure to reach the desired level due to the deficiencies in the implementation of poverty alleviation programs in Sri Lanka. Implementation of these policies more efficiently will help achieve the desired results.