The main objectives of this presentation were to verify whether the inequality in Sri Lanka increase over the period 1980-2002, what factors exerted the greatest influence on total inequality and its changes and on which segments of the distribution did these factors have the greatest impact. LFSS (1980, 1985) and HIES (1990, 1995, 2002) data of the DCS have been used for the study.  The methodology that have been used were analyse of consumption expenditure data as a proxy for income, construction of regional price indices using the regression-based Country Product Dummy Method and use of an individual per capita income using adult equivalent scales. The study has revealed that inequality has increased within 1980-2002, mean incomes also have increased so welfare has increased, greater proportion of people in higher income ranges in 2002 than in 1980, infrastructure access, education, occupation are the main drivers of inequality and change and lower to middle classes have benefited more from higher education attainment and infrastructure access. This concludes by presenting some poly implications.

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