‘Of SL’s poverty-stricken 7 million, 75 percent have only two meals per day’

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

Sri Lanka is already facing an absolute disruption of households with over seven million people out of the total twenty one million population living in abject poverty. Out of the seven million more than 75 percent have only two meals per day, marketing specialist Dr. Rohantha Athukorale said.

“Although things are going to be difficult for Sri Lanka, the country is now on a recovery path with the country’s GDP growth registered at 1.6 percent in the third quarter of 2023 and three percent in the fourth quarter. But people are still going through major hardships amid such progress, Athukorala said recently at a Rotary Club leadership training conference for members for the year 2024/25.

The programme was held over three days at the Thinnai Hotel, Jaffna recently with the participation of more than 70 Rotary Club members from all walks of life in the country who are prospective presidents of their respective clubs for the year 2024/25. The inauguration ceremony was held under the patronage of the Governor of the Northern Province, P.S.M Charles, who attended as Chief Guest.

Athukorala added: ‘Our progress is quite satisfactory and above the curve level in all statistics when compared with other countries of the region, such as, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

‘Sri Lanka could get out of this rut, if the government manages the economy in a prudent manner. Therefore, with the current Free Trade Agreement with Thailand and deeper penetration of trade with India, Sri Lanka can target 4-5 percent GDP growth in the next few years.

‘Sri Lanka’s recovery has yet to hit the consumer’s end because the latest research revealed that 89 percent of people’s expenditure is more than their income.

‘Further, 45 percent of children in the country find it difficult to purchase stationery for school. Therefore, Rotary as a club has taken the initiative to help such children.’

Rotary sources said that so far the Rotary Club has spent more than US$ 600 million on various projects, including Polio eradication, providing water and sanitation facilities for needy people, tree- planting campaigns and many more human welfare projects.

The Rotary District Governor Elect for the year 2024/25 Sushena Ranatunga spearheaded a project and raised over US $ 400,000 to set up the first Human Heart Valve Bank at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) along with the Rotary Foundation and Rotary Sri Lanka. This is considered the flagship project of Sri Lanka Rotary.

At the event District Governor Jerome Rajendram and District Governor Elect Sushena Ranatunga, Former Rotary Global President K.R Ravindran, former District Governors Dushan Soza, Aruni Malalasekera and Pubudu Soyza among others participated.