Open forum on understanding poverty

An open forum on understanding poverty with a presentation of a case study of multidimensional poverty among Samurdhi welfare recipients in the Badulla District will be held on 25 August at 4.30 p.m. at the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), 29, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. The 43rd Open Forum will disseminate the findings of a multidimensional poverty analysis carried out by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), with support from the Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network (PEP), Canada and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

This Open Forum will feature presentation entitled ‘Introduction to Multidimensional Poverty, the Pilot Study and Methodology’ by Nilakshi De Silva, Senior Research Professional, CEPA. It will be followed by a presentation by K. I. H. Sanjeewanie, Research Professional, CEPA on the ‘Findings from Pilot Study in the Badulla District relating to multidimensional poverty among Samurdhi households, with a special focus on the dimension of employment quality, empowerment, dignity, physical safety and subjective and psychological wellbeing’.

The discussant will be Hemachandra Ranathunge, Freelance Consultant, Poverty Alleviation and ICT (former Additional Secretary, Samurdhi, Poverty Alleviation and ICT, Ministry of Economic Development),who will provide comments based on ‘How can survey data from these dimensions be used in improving the effectiveness of Samurdhi welfare programme - in relation to : conceptualising, designing, implementing and training etc.’





The Open Forum will be chaired by Professor Kalinga Tudor Silva, Senior Professor - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya and Executive Director, International Centre for Ethnic Studies.

CEPA Open Forums on Poverty aim to provide a platform for professional debate on poverty related issues in Sri Lanka, and to encourage knowledge sharing and discussion.