Abstract:
Diverse literature at local and international level has indicated considerable relationship between education
and poverty. The study mainly focuses on exploring the ability of rural youth in knocking down the poverty
where matured households are less educated. Survey has conducted based on four divisional secretariats in
Puttalam District (Karuwalagaswewa, Chilaw, Kuliyapitiya and Dankotuwa) from January to December in
2010. Generally Puttalam district has recognized as the one of the poorest districts in Sri Lanka. Three
hundred households were randomly selected for the sample and survey strategy being utilized with
interviews to serve triangulation in data collection. The study attempts to develop a model giving special
emphasis on the fixed assets ownership, years of primary / secondary education and the monthly income
level. The findings of the study indicates that level of education among the selected rural sector matured
households make positive impact on the income generated by the youth concerned. However in positive
perspective it is recognized that substantial increase in level of schooling and participation in educational
activities among youth. In addition to that fixed asset ownership and extent of the assets ownership of has
deteriorated over the years and which is rapidly accelerated in recent past.
