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)
