The government has spent Rs. 144 billion on welfare benefits last year and as per the agreements with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Sri Lanka had agreed to spend a minimum of Rs. 187 billion annually on welfare benefits, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.
He revealed that the government expects to spend Rs. 206 billion annually on the ‘Aswesuma’ program.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday (12), the State Minister said that out of the 982 770 appeals received thus far, 650,000 appeals have been received by the individuals whose names are already in the published list.
Meanwhile the first payment will be made within this month for all candidates elected and who have not received objections or appeals, he said, adding that it has taken about 20 years to put in line a systematic and a transparent method to identify the underprivileged and those in need of welfare benefits.
