The Welfare Benefits Board has announced that payments for the first and second phases of the Aswesuma program can be withdrawn from bank accounts starting today (28 Jan).

In January 2026, a total of 1,415,584 families are set to receive benefits under the first phase, with the government allocating Rs. 11,234,713,750.00.

According to the Welfare Benefits Board, for the second phase, 248,454 families will receive benefits, with the government setting aside Rs. 2,235,137,500.00. (Newswire)

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The Welfare Benefits Board has called on current beneficiaries and applicants of the first phase of the Aswesuma welfare programme from the 2022–2023 period to verify or update their personal information before Dec. 10, 2025.

This requirement applies to both individuals currently receiving benefits and those awaiting review. However, those who submitted applications in 2024 are not required to complete this verification process.

According to the board, there are three ways to complete the update:

1. Online via eservices.wbb.gov.lk
2. In-person at the nearest Divisional Secretariat, where assistance will be provided upon submission of a National Identity Card number and household (HH) code
3. Form submission by handing in a completed annual information update form to the relevant Grama Niladhari or development officer

Applicants must include the names of all family members and an active mobile phone number when verifying their information. Participation in the verification process is mandatory for all families registered under the first phase. Failure to comply will disqualify them from receiving benefits under the programme next year.

For further assistance, the public may contact the Welfare Benefits Board via the 1924 hotline or by email at commissioner.wbb@gmail.com (Newswire)

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The government will continue with the existing payments of allowances for elderly citizens, disabled and those with kidney disease until a new criteria is introduced, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe stated.

Taking to Twitter, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe stated the directives have been issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

He further stated that, however, the execution of the ‘Asawesuma’ welfare benefits programme will have no change.

“We have received 760’000 appeals and 10’000 objections which will be evaluated at the earliest to target assistance to those who are most in need and ensure equitable distribution of resources,” State Minister Semasinghe added. (NewsWire)

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Nearly 95% of the verification of the declarations by the beneficiaries of the “Aswesuma” welfare benefits payment scheme has been completed, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe stated.

Taking to Twitter, State Minister Semasinghe stated that the verification has been completed by the selection committees that were appointed to examine and ascertain the accuracy of the declarations by the intended beneficiaries. 

“The payments of all welfare benefits will be made from July under the “Aswesuma” Scheme This will ensure welfare benefits will be given through a transparent selection process by which the recipients can be identified,” he said. 

State Minister Semasinghe added that dates will be notified to submit objections to the names included in the list or claims to be included to conduct an inquiry and arrive at a decision.

Over 3.7 million applications for welfare benefits were received from 340 Divisional Secretariats across the island.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), 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.

Nearly 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. Nearly 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. (NewsWire)

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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)

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The information of nearly 1.1 million applications for welfare benefits out of 3.7 million has been verified as of now, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the applications from 334 Divisional Secretariats have been verified through an ongoing information survey.

The State Minister further said that the said information survey will conclude on 31 March 2023.

Emphasizing the need for accurate information, State Minister Semasinghe warned that the failure to submit the necessary information by the deadline will result in the loss of welfare benefits.

In October 2022, the Government launched the restructured welfare benefits programme for vulnerable persons/families targeting 3.1 million beneficiaries.

Vulnerable persons/families were informed to register for the new welfare benefits programme via applications from the following website – wbb.gov.lk (NewsWire)

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The data survey to identify eligible individuals for welfare benefits will end on 31st March 2023, the Welfare Benefits Board has announced.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the Welfare Benefits Board has warned that the failure to provide data before the deadline may result in a loss of benefits. 

The Welfare Benefits Board has further requested applicants to provide accurate and timely data to field officers.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has urged the public to register for the 52 welfare benefits, including Samurdhi, provided by the Welfare Benefits Board, before the 31st of March 2023. 

The Finance Ministry warned that if registration is not completed before the said deadline, there is a risk of not receiving assistance from the World Bank for this programme resulting in the possible suspension of benefits for welfare beneficiaries. 

According to the Welfare Benefits Board, which is under the purview of the Finance Ministry, 3.7 million people had applied for the benefits through the online system. 

In order to check the eligibility of those people applying for Samurdhi and other welfare benefits, arrangements were made to conduct a census using field officers attached to the District Secretariat and although 3.7 million have applied for benefits, only 65,000 people have been registered in the census so far.

The Finance Ministry has also revealed that some field officers belonging to trade unions were attempting to sabotage efforts pertaining to the welfare programme, with some officers misleading the public with false information claiming that information is being recorded to remove their names from the welfare programme. 

Requesting the public not to be deceived by such false information, the Finance Ministry has requested them to register with the Welfare Benefits Board before the 31st March deadline. 

The Ministry further urged those who receive Samurdhi and other welfare benefits to visit the respective Divisional Secretariats in their area of residence or the Grama Niladhari office and register before March 31. (NewsWire)

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