The Poverty Reduction Strategy for Colombo City outlined in this brief document is directed towards ground-level action by the Municipality. The Poverty Profile prepared under the Urban Poverty Reduction through Community Empowerment Project identified a number of key issues that need to be addressed to reduce poverty in Colombo's low-income settlements. This strategy addresses only those poverty-related issues identified by the Poverty Profile and those identified by the Public Assistance Department of the Colombo Municipality. The report covers priority issues of poverty, land tenure, lack of basic amenities, hidden social problems, housing etc. The Municipality having a vision of being a caring institution responsible for improving the overall livelihood and wellbeing of citizens proposes a comprehensive and systematic strategy to address urban poverty issues. The document also sets out the governing principles of the poverty reduction strategy.