The government has increased welfare benefits this year – State Minister

The government has spent Rs. 144 billion on welfare benefits last year and as per the agreements with the IMF and World Bank Sri Lanka had agreed to spend a minimum of Rs. 187 billion annually on welfare benefits State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. He added that the government expects to spend Rs. 206 billion annually on the ‘Aswesuma’ program.

It has taken about 20 years to put in line a systematic and a transparent method to identify the underprivileged and those in need of welfare benefits, the State Minister added.

Out of the 982 770 appeals has been received thus far, 650,000 appeals have been received by the individuals whose names are already in the published list.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. that the first payment under the ‘Aswesuma’ program will be made within this month for all candidates selected and who have not received objections or appeals,