Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2024-03-11 (Subject to Confirmation at the next Meeting)

Programme for empowering families receiving benefits under the Aswesuma Social Welfare Benefit Scheme

- The Cabinet at its meeting held on 2023‑04‑17 has granted approval to prepare and implement a Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme in terms of the provisions of the Social Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002. Accordingly, it has been planned to implement a programme with a view to empowering benefited families under the Aswesuma Social Welfare Benefit Scheme economically, socially and psychologically within 03 years. As such, the proposal made by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment to initiate a Pilot Project through the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank and local funds targeting 16,000 beneficiary families in the selected Divisional Secretariat Divisions covering all 25 District as the First Phase of the said Programme and based on the outcome of the said Pilot Project, to implement the relevant Programme to empower the identified beneficiary families in all Divisional Secretariats, was approved by the Cabinet.