Prosperity, measured by the Sri Lanka Prosperity Index (SLPI) , which is a composite indicator that measures and compares the level of prosperity of the country and across its provinces, improved to 0.746 in 2016 from 0.685 in the previous year. In analyzing the movements of the sub-indices of SLPI, for the period of 2015 to 2016, the Economy and Business Climate and Well-being of the People sub-indices have improved, while there is a moderation in Socio-Economic Infrastructure sub-index.
The improvements in employment rate, informal sector wages, industrial density and banking density have contributed towards the enhancement of the Economy and Business Climate sub-index. With regard to the sub index of the Well-being of the People, high performance in availability of healthcare facilities, availability & quality of education, wealth of people and availability & usage of entertainment facilities were the key drivers. The reduction observed in the Socio-Economic Infrastructure sub-index was led by reduced levels of pipe borne water quality, female participation in civic activities and available transport facilities. However, the aspects of road coverage, availability of electricity, crime free environment and availability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities in schools have shown improvements within the Socio-Economic Infrastructure sub-index.