Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic crisis in 2022, during which 28 percent of the population was assessed as moderately acute food insecure, according to the WFP-FAO Joint Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM). In March 2023, a second joint CFSAM conducted by WFP and FAO indicated an improvement, with the proportion falling to 17 percent. This improvement was largely attributed to better food consumption resulting from reduced food prices and increased incomes among farming communities.
However, a household food security survey conducted by WFP in August–September 2023 found that 24 percent of households were moderately food insecure, signalling a decline in the overall food security situation. The survey also highlighted a seasonal pattern in food security, largely driven by fluctuations in food consumption.
To further assess the situation, WFP conducted another household food security survey in December 2024. This assessment included a nationally representative sample of 15,000 households, incorporating those enrolled in the Aswesuma social welfare programme.
