The conceptual base of the Janasaviya lies in a report by a High Level Committee of officials on Poverty Alleviation and its further elucidation in the United National Party manifesto of 1988, titled ‘A New Vision: A New Deal.’ The documents promoted the establishments of a path of people-based development for overall alleviation of poverty. Such a path was expected to create a suitable economic and institutional environment, which will facilitate people, particularly the poor, to realise and utilize their potential for self-betterment rather than continuing to be wards of the state. This paper is a review of the Janasaviya programme.