Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-07-31

Implementation of the Aswesuma Social Welfare Benefit Programme

- The Cabinet decided to grant its concurrence for the following arrangements presented by the Hon. President pertaining to the expeditious payment of benefits under the Aswesuma Social Welfare Benefit Programme:

• Making payments for 1,588,835 beneficiaries who do not have appeals or objections pending against them, out of 1,792,265 beneficiaries selected by the Welfare Benefit Board for the Aswesuma Programme.

• Making payments for 84,374 selected beneficiaries but have appealed for inclusion in a higher category, under their present category until a final decision is taken having completed the appeal review process.

• Making entitled payments to 119,056 against whom objections have been filed, out of the selected beneficiaries, until the review process conducted with regard to the said objections is concluded.

• Making payments for 393,094 Samurdhi beneficiaries who have applied for benefits through this programme but have not been selected, under the Samurdhi Programme until the review process for appeals and objections under the Aswesuma Programme is fully completed.

• Making payments continuously for beneficiaries receiving Kidney Disease Support and Disability Support at present, through the Divisional Secretariats and paying Elders' Support through Post Offices.

• Making relevant payments further for 11,660 persons who are suffering from kidney diseases, disabled or elderly, in Care Homes or places of religious worship.