• Accompanied by moderate-severe hunger 
• Majority buys food in small quantities, 32% borrow money from relatives/friends to cover food expenses

A survey conducted by the Food First Information and Action Network (FIAN), Sri Lanka Chapter, across selected Divisional Secretariats in 10 Districts, revealed that 56.6% of households in the sample face food insecurity accompanied by moderate or severe hunger.  

These findings were unveiled yesterday (9) at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute during the launch of the survey report, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Presenting the survey results, FIAN Project Coordinator Shehari Wijesinghe stated that the primary aim of the study was to gain grassroots-level insights into food-related challenges and the public's actual sentiments on the same. The survey also sought to assess 'food sovereignty', violations of food-related rights, and barriers to accessing nutritious food.  

Outlining the key findings, Wijesinghe highlighted that households’ income has significantly decreased due to soaring inflation compared to 2019. According to the sample data, the average monthly income of a family is Rs. 49,580 — 35% lower than the 2019 national average of Rs. 78,414. “Nearly two-thirds of households reported declines in income, with two-thirds of those experiencing reductions exceeding 25%. Moreover, three-quarters of households have altered their diets by opting for cheaper, less nutritious foods, likely due to financial constraints,” she explained.  

Wijesinghe further noted that a majority of households (57.8%) purchase food items in small quantities, while only 8.9% buy in bulk. Additionally, one-third of households (33.3%) adopt a combination of both approaches. She revealed that 32% of households surveyed resort to borrowing money from relatives and friends as loans to cover food expenses. “A significant 62% of households doubt their income stability, while 56.6% are grappling with food insecurity and moderate to severe hunger,” she said.  

FIAN Sri Lanka presented several recommendations to address these issues, focusing on mitigating income instability and food insecurity. “To alleviate the immediate impacts of inflation and income instability, we recommend the development and expansion of community-based safety net mechanisms,” Wijesinghe added.