In this paper, Suranjana Vidyaratne, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics, presents the statistics and indicators of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), 2006/2007. The paper points out features of HIES as the survey includes information on housing, health, education, access to assets and other basic amenities. The calculation and the derivation of the national poverty line in Sri Lanka explained in the paper highlights how the food basket is identified, how the calorie cost and Headcount Index (HCI) are calculated. CEPA’s objective in hosting the Open Forum on Poverty every quarter is to provide a platform for groups of professionals to discuss their research and/or experience on poverty and related issues. The Open Forum also functions as a medium through which knowledge can be disseminated to a wider audience.