This paper was presented at the Institute of Policy Studies in August 1995. It provides an overview of poverty in Sri Lanka at the time, reflecting the poverty incidence, methods of measuring poverty and further highlighting key issues pertaining to it. Thereafter, it provides a multi-faceted approach to alleviating poverty and emphasizes the fact that the state must play a leading role in ensuring that it is implemented. Thereafter, it concludes with the idea that any poverty alleviation effort that is undertaken needs to be carried out with the interests of the poor being placed at the centre of the agenda.