President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given directions for the initiation of the “Aswesuma” welfare benefit payments, which are scheduled to commence on July 1st, 2023.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the necessary gazette has been published in accordance with the authorities delegated to President Ranil Wickremesinghe as Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy.
Accordingly, these payments will be distributed among four social categories, namely transitional, vulnerable, poor, and extremely poor. Additionally, the usual allowances for the differently-abled, elderly, and kidney patients will also be provided
The PMD reported that 400,000 transitional beneficiaries will receive Rs.2,500 per month until December 31, 2023, while 400,000 vulnerable beneficiaries will receive Rs.5,000 per month until March 31, 2024.
800,000 poor beneficiaries will receive Rs.8,500 per month and extremely poor beneficiaries will receive Rs.15,000 per month for three years beginning July 1, 2023.
Currently, 72,000 differently-abled people getting welfare benefits will each receive Rs.5000 per month, 39,150 people receiving kidney support will each receive Rs.5000 per month, and 416,667 people receiving senior assistance would each receive Rs. 2000 per month.
Around 3,712,096 applications for welfare benefits have been received from 340 Divisional Secretariats across the island, with 91.5% of the process of verifying program information to identify those who are eligible for payment of these welfare benefits completed as of yesterday (08).
The PMD further stated that the data has been monitored through selection committees consisting of three members at the regional office level, and the process of approval by the district secretary has also started.
The highest number of applications that have been confirmed and finalized are from the Vavuniya district, which is 98% followed by 96.5% from the Kandy district, 96% from the Kilinochchi district, 96% from the Jaffna district and 95.5% from the Trincomalee district respectively.
The PMD added that a total of 3,362,040 applications covering the entire island have been verified so far. (NewsWire)