50% Lankans lack dietary energy

50% Lankans lack dietary energy: study
Sunday, April 13,2008 COLOMBO:
Half of all Sri Lankans do not get the minimum calorie daily requirements according to the latest studies of the government. "An average poor in Sri Lanka receives only 1696 kilo calories per day while a Non-poor receives 2194 kilo calories, and 50.7% of the population receive less dietary energy than that set as the minimum level required," the latest poverty study by the Department of Census and Statistics said. The report titled Poverty Indicators — Household Income and Expenditure Survey - 2006/07 said that the minimum daily calorie intake was set at 2030 kilo calories. The study also said that there were wide disparities among the regions in Sri Lanka. While the urban population consumed only 65% of the national requirement, urban areas recorded higher daily dietary consumption and needs. Poorer districts like Moneragala, Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota topped the list of high energy requirements primarily due their agro based economy. The survey also found that 15.2% of the population or 2.8 million persons fell below the poverty line of Rs. 2233 total expenditure per person per month. Over 82% of the poor were from the rural areas while the estate sector contributed 11% and the urban population 6%. The Central Province recorded 20.4% of the poor followed by Sabaragamuwa 16%, Western 16%, and North Western. Ratnapura District recorded 10% of the poor while Nuwara Eliya and Kurunegala recorded 9% and 8% respectively. The survey found that national poverty levels had fallen since 1995/96, and between 2002 and 2007 the drop in poverty levels was one third.