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.
