While many have taken note of Sri Lanka’s development achievement of bringing its poverty levels down to just 7%, Economic Development Deputy Minister Mr. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has stated that all measures will be taken within the next few years to further reduce it to 2%. The Minister also pointed out that the Government has taken measures to increase the country's per capita income to US$ 4,000 by 2016.  

The news comes at an important juncture for Sri Lanka, being ranked among the top five countries in the world for its economic growth of more than 8% and also being ranked as a hot-spot tourist destination by The World Travel Market, the National Geographic travel Magazine and the Condè Nast Traveller.