Over 3.7 million Sri Lankan are to depend on social security benefit payments
In Sri Lanka, over 3.7 million persons (Sri Lankan) have sought social security benefit payments and a proper methodology should be followed in selecting beneficiaries for social security schemes, a Parliament committee was informed.
The matter was discussed when the Committee on Ways and Means Chaired by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka met.
From the first of July, the “Aswesuma” welfare scheme is to be implemented by the Government, and welfare benefit payments will be made under 04 social categories of transitional, vulnerable, poor and extremely poor.
And, related allowances will also be given to the disabled, elderly and kidney patients as usual under this scheme, Officials informed the committee.
It was noted during the meeting that more than 3.7 million applications have been received to obtain the allowance and the most vulnerable will be given the allowance from the first day of July.
The Chair of the Committee emphasized that the World Bank has indicated that 30 percent of the recipients of the Samurdhi allowance are not eligible for it and the beneficiaries for this scheme should be selected keeping that in mind.
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