February 15, Colombo (LNW): The application process for the second phase of the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefits scheme programme commences today (15), aiming the selection of an additional 400,000 beneficiaries.
Accordingly, applications can be submitted either online or through the Divisional Secretariats within a one-month period, Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said.
He noted that the government intends to expand the ‘Aswesuma’ beneficiary base, currently nearing 2 million, to encompass up to 2.4 million individuals. The government anticipates allocating Rs. 205 billion towards welfare provision this year to facilitate this initiative, the Minister emphasised.
Furthermore, Semasinghe disclosed that starting January 2024, monthly allowances for disabled persons, kidney patients, and elderly citizens will be retrospectively increased.
Accordingly, allowances for kidney patients and disabled individuals will rise from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500, while the allowance for elderly citizens will increase from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000.
Last week, Semasinghe outlined plans to identify ‘Aswesuma’ beneficiaries eligible for these enhanced allowances within the first quarter of 2024, with increased payments scheduled to commence from April 01.
Moreover, the government has decided to extend payments to ‘vulnerable’ and ‘transitional’ social groups until December 31. These groups will eventually be amalgamated, with a total of 800,000 families designated as ‘vulnerable’ eligible to receive an allowance of Rs. 5,000.
Currently, the ‘transitional’ social group receives Rs. 2,500.
