Govt. seems to be doing very little to tackle UN report on malnourishment in SL

Nearly one in four people in Sri Lanka live below the internationally recognized poverty level, a United Nations report that measured income levels in 2016 has said.

The UN standard measures poverty as an income of less than about Rs 400 a day.

According to these findings a quarter of Sri Lankans are malnourished.

This is a very serious situation. The average income of a politician is about Rs. 7000 per day or more.

Something has to be done very early to correct this situation. A poverty elimination or reduction programme was started by this Government but we do not hear of anything happening.

It is very sad to note that none of the politicians talk about the need to reduce poverty. They are more interested in developing their polit- ical party and in the next presidential election. They are more worried about their duty-free car permit. They shout against private education. Many politicians are encouraging student unrest in universities, using students to achieve their political objectives. They are more focused on getting a high post – of Minister, Deputy Minister or State Minister post.

Many politicians fight for the sal- ary problems of Government and private sector employees. But they have completely forgotten about the people living below the poverty level.

We request the politicians and the senior Government officials to do something effective to eradicate poverty in our country.

D. Weeratunga Nugegoda