Despite a legacy of impressive achievements, poverty levels in Sri Lanka remain high. There is an urgent need to redefine strategies for reducing poverty in all its many dimensions. Thus, in an attempt to search for new and more inclusive efforts to reduce poverty, the government was motivated to prepare a Poverty Reduction Framework. The framework is based on an assessment of the extent, causes and consequences of poverty in Sri Lanka. Its aim is to define the main pathways for a broad-based poverty reduction effort. It is founded on three major pillars – creating opportunities for the poor to participate in economic growth; strengthening the social protection system; and empowering the poor and strengthening governance.