State Minister Semasinghe gives measured answer to Opposition Leader’s question on relief

By Saman Indrajith

Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment, Business Development and Underutilized State Resources Development State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament yesterday that since Nov 9 the government had spent Rs 7,702 million to grant Rs 5,000 each to the families in the lockdown areas in the Colombo District.

The allocation was for the months of October and November.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on behalf of the Finance Minister, the State Minister said 498,883 persons in 103,252 families were in the lockdown and in areas isolated in the district. There were 42,380 persons in 8,436 families in eight flats in the Colombo district.

He said that Rs 5,000 allowance had been provided to 434,776 families in the district in November alone and the government had spent Rs 2,173 million for that purpose.  In addition, there had been 31,270 appeals from persons who did not receive the allowance and action had been taken to provide them with the allowance, Minister Semasinghe said.

He said that dry rations worth Rs 10,000 each had been distributed among 19,923 families in the district and the government had spent Rs 199.3 million for that.

Distribution had been made at the Grama Niladhari division level.

 Minister Semasinghe said that a Rs 5,000 allowance had been distributed among some families per week in area areas under lockdown.

Opposition Leader Premadasa: Now, you have given Rs 5,000 per week. If the areas remain under lockdown for one month would you give them Rs 20,000 as originally requested.

Minister Semasinghe: The decision on how much would be given in the form of Rs 5,000 allowance whether it would be given twice or more than that is made by the District Coordinating committee. The government would pay as per the decision of the committee which comprises all MPs in a district.