The Welfare Benefits Board has said appeals regarding the revised Aswesuma beneficiary list can be submitted until November 11.
In an exclusive interview with Newsfirst, Board Chairman Nimal Kotawelagedara said appeals must be handed over to the relevant Divisional Secretariats, as Divisional Secretaries chair the respective appeals committees. He noted that the law allows ten days for appeals, with the deadline falling on November 11.
According to the revised list, about 991,800 people have been identified as eligible for Aswesuma benefits, while a further 265,315 individuals selected earlier will continue to receive the allowance. The Board expects to release the revised beneficiary list on November 27, with payments to selected beneficiaries due to begin in the last week of November.
Another list covering around 700,000 people chosen through preliminary assessments is awaiting approval. Once it is approved, the names of those identified under the extremely poor and poor categories will also be published.
Addressing concerns over people who have lost their Aswesuma benefits following the revision, Kotawelagedara said an empowerment programme is already being implemented through the Samurdhi Department. The Board has a separate Memorandum of Understanding with the department to refer identified individuals for assistance, and it also intends to propose extending these empowerment initiatives to those in the vulnerable and transitional categories, in addition to the extremely poor and poor.