The Welfare Benefits Board has announced that from now on, payments under the Aswesuma benefits programme will be made only to poor and extremely poor families.

Launched in 2023, the programme is entering its second phase this year, with work underway to update beneficiary information. 

At its inception, nearly 1.6 million people received allowances under four categories.

However, in April 2025, payments to 315,000 beneficiaries in the transitional category were stopped, while in June 2026, payments to 425,000 beneficiaries in the vulnerable category were also discontinued.

Addressing the media, Assistant Commissioner Ashan Darshaka explained that families within these two categories who are identified as poor or extremely poor will still have the opportunity to re‑qualify for benefits under the revised scheme. (Newswire)

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Applications for the second phase of the ‘Aswesuma’ Welfare Benefit Scheme will be accepted from today (Feb 15) until March 15, 2024, Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board, Jayantha Wijeratne announced.

Jayantha Wijeratne assured that eligible individuals will receive ‘Aswesuma’ benefits without any influence.

He further noted that families who did not apply for the first phase of the ‘Aswesuma’ scheme and also those who did not participate in the housing information census though submitted applications can apply for the second phase of the benefits scheme.

Jayantha Wijeratne shared these insights during a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre today.

During the second phase of ‘Aswesuma’, benefits are anticipated to be extended to 2.4 million families. It was emphasized that expediting the benefits process requires submitting applications with accurate and truthful information. 

Additionally, Jayantha Wijeratne also stressed the necessity of including the National Identity Card (NIC) number of applicants during the application process for the second phase to ensure the timely provision of benefits within the specified timeframe.

Hence, the Department of Registration of Persons has initiated a special program at the Divisional Secretariat level to expedite the issuance of NICs for applicants lacking National Identity Cards.

Applications for the second phase of ‘Aswesuma’ can be submitted via the online system, through Divisional Secretariats or from the Grama Niladhari. Applicants have the option to complete the application form in Sinhala, Tamil or English on the website www.wbb.gov.lk 

For individuals unable to apply online, model applications are accessible through Divisional Secretariats or civil organizations and there is no charge for obtaining these applications.

It was highlighted that individuals who applied for the first phase but did not qualify for benefits, as well as those who missed participation in the appeal tests, will have an opportunity for re-certification in the future. 

The Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board said further information can be obtained through the hotline number 1924. (NewsWire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to implement the revised Aswesuma Scheme for Welfare Benefit Payment.

According to the government, the Aswesuma Scheme for Welfare Benefit Payment has already been implemented with the following revisions. 

• Extending the valid period for the vulnerable social group among the social groups qualified for Aswesuma benefits from 01.04.2024 to 31.12.2024 and the valid period for the transitional social group (of that income deteriorated temporarily due to economic crisis) among the social groups qualified for Aswesuma benefits as from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024.
• Amalgamating the existing vulnerable social group and transitional social group (of those whose income deteriorated temporarily due to economic crisis) and considering eight hundred thousand families as vulnerable group with effect from 01.01.2024 and payment of an allowance of rupees 5000/- with effect from that date until 31.12.2024. 
• Upon the process of confirmation of information, payment of rupees 7,500/- for patients suffering from unidentified kidney deceases, rupees 7,500/- for disabled persons and rupees 3,000/- for elderly persons included in the Aswesuma family list with effect from April 2024. 
• Increase the payment of rupees 7,500/- for patients suffering from unidentified kidney deceases, rupees 7,500/- for disabled persons and rupees 3,000/- for elderly persons included in and pending in lists with effect from 01.01. 2024 and make this payment by the District Secretaries / Divisional Secretaries away from the Aswesuma programme. 
• Initiating calling of applications for the second round within the first quarter of 2024, and finalizing it during June 2024, the payments to be made from July and revising the number of families eligible for until 2.4 million including the number of eligible families additionally. (NewsWire)

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Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government of cheating the country through its ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefits scheme. 

Issuing a statement, MP Premadasa stated the poverty level which remained at 14% has risen up to 31% now and the overall poverty level in the country has surpassed 7 million. 

Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa stated that the lack of essential medicines in hospitals is dragging Sri Lanka into a very grave health tragedy. 

“The government, as a whole, is playing even with the lives of patients as it appears in a closer look at the overall picture of the dearth of medicine, exorbitant rise in the price of medicine and frauds and corrupt practices related to medicine. 

The government, first of all, should have conducted a survey to penetrate into the actual status of the country in order to understand the actual situation the country is facing. Instead, the government, by its games of treachery, has pushed the entire country into danger. 

The government has introduced a blindfold called ‘Aswesuma’ purportedly to provide relief to the general public and only 1.2 million people will benefit from that program in three years. While questioning the government about its intention in providing subsidies only to 1.2 million people when there are 7 million poor people, we would also like to know from the government about the criteria adopted in selecting those 1.2 million people,” he queried. 

MP Premadasa further stated that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksha pushed the entire country into famine by arbitrarily banning the importation of fertilizer and his successor President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government is also dragging people in the country to the deathbed by cheating the entire country. 

“We in the Samagi Jana Balavega warned the country in advance about the serious tragedy into which the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is going to push it and we also warned from the beginning that the actions of the incumbent government are no better than those of its predecessor. 

However, the government has a singular yearning to endanger the country and its people, or else, it would not do anything to put so much pressure on the people,” he alleged.

MP Premadasa stated that at this moment, even the negotiation with the International Monetary Fund, which is crucial for the country, has been made by the government to a deal only to achieve its own narrow goals rather than a common engagement for the good of the country. All this implies nothing but a short-sighted arbitrary process of an opportunistic government. 

“We repeatedly emphasize that this situation can be changed and the country can be built with a populist vision only through a new mandate and we also emphasize that we will exert all possible pressure on the government to realize it. 

‘Aswesuma’ should be implemented targeting the poor population of 7 million people in the country as per the survey conducted by the Learn Asia Institute, with an understanding of the true situation of the country. 

We would like to recall that instead of the unscientifically selected people to achieve narrow goals, the people who have real needs should be selected through a scientific program, and the remedies for the serious shortage of drugs in the country should be urgently applied and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will provide the necessary support,” he added. (NewsWire)

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