The document summarizes a study on coping strategies adopted by poor households in Kandy district, Sri Lanka during times of food price hikes. The study found that households primarily cope by engaging in multiple income sources, increased reliance on credit, borrowing from informal sources, and support from friends/family. They also cut non-food spending, ate less frequently and in smaller portions, and substituted cheaper local foods. The choice of strategy depended on the household resources and external environment. While hunger was not widespread, some coping strategies like substituting and reducing food intake likely deteriorated nutritional status. The document recommends policies account for differences between rural, urban and estate communities and focus on staple foods like rice and wheat that experienced price fluctuations.