Sri Lanka faces alarming disparity in income equality: Poll

Thursday, 4 February 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The latest nationwide survey conducted by TNS Lanka, for business magazine LMD, reveals that a massive majority (82%) of those polled feel that wealth distribution in Sri Lanka is inequitable, while 10% dispute this claim and 8% are unsure.

Respondents say that the gap between the rich and poor continues is as wide as ever, with only 7% saying it as ‘fair’ – a whopping 86% disagree with this view and another 7% remains on the fence. However, over the need to do more to reduce and alleviate poverty, there is a greater degree of unanimity among respondents, at 92%. Slightly over half (55%) the respondents feel that those who work hard earn decent wages, while 30% say that salary levels are disproportionate.

Wealth distribution is unequal across the world, according to 86% of those polled, while a mere 2% feel otherwise.

LMD reports that citizens propose a number of ways to bridge the gap between Sri Lanka’s rich and poor: 20% suggest donating to the poor, while a somewhat similar number (18%) want people to work harder to amass wealth.

A spokesperson for the magazine also notes that “about 12% of those polled want the surety that everyone receives a decent salary, while 11% call for an increase in job opportunities. Then there’s one-in-10 who feel that the wealthy should help the poor.”

The cover story of the January edition of the pioneering business magazine features the scourge of our times: Poverty. For the full story, log onto www.LMD.lk.