The Government is paying close attention to certain parties’ attempts to satisfy their political needs by giving the ‘Aswasuma’ program, which was created to aid those in need of economic stability, a political façade, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

However, the Government assures that any shortcomings in the process of selecting the relevant candidates will be rectified immediately and plans are being made to discuss this with the district secretaries, divisional secretaries, and other parties involved in the program in the coming week.

Accordingly, 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, the PMD said.

6728 officers were employed in the data collection process for the information survey of the program to identify those who are eligible for welfare benefit payments, covering all the divisional secretariats across the island. It included 3190 development officers, 494 economic development officers, 205 Grama Niladhari officers, 1127 other officers and 1712 temporary recruits.

At the regional office level, a three-member selection committee will monitor the data and, after approval by the district secretary, the deserving candidates will be selected, it added.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as the Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister announced yesterday morning (25) that the time period given to those who have been wronged in the selection of the beneficiaries of the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefit payment program to hand over appeals and objections has been extended until July 10, as some parties have alleged that there have been shortcomings in the process.

Sri Lanka government launched the restructured welfare benefits program for vulnerable persons/ families targeting 3.1 million beneficiaries. Beneficiaries full list can be access via https://iwms.wbb.gov.lk/household/list web link.

State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe advised all applicants whose names were NOT included in the list of ‘Aswesuma’ beneficiaries to file appeals before July 10; following the close of the appeal process, a final list of deserving applicants will be compiled.

Those whose names were not included in the benefits list can visit the website www.wbb.gov.lk and submit their objections by filling the form mentioned there. Government is expect to prepare the final list of social welfare benefits candidates after the appeal period ends. The list of names that has been made public is by no means the final list.

Appeals Sinhala Language Download PDF – http://wbb.gov.lk/web/download/sinhala/form via Welfare Benefits Boards Website.

Appeals Tamil Language Download PDF – https://wbb.gov.lk/web/download/tamil/form via Welfare Benefits Boards Website.

A Hotline 1924 established for further details or any complaints on relevant officials.

Special counter will be opened at all Divisional Secretariats from June 28 to file objections and appeals over the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Program says Welfare Benefits Board.

State Minister Shehan Semasinghe says that so far 188,794 appeals & 3,304 objections have been received over the Aswesuma social security scheme.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene says that appeals can be forwarded related to the “Aswasuma” Welfare Benefits Programme untill July 10.

The list of beneficiaries receiving differently-abled, elderly, and kidney support allowances is also expected to be released in the near future via www.wbb.gov.lk website.

“”Any individual or family who believes they should be eligible for this benefit but whose name is not included in the list that has been published so far, to submit an appeal to the appropriate Divisional Secretariat Offices within the allotted time frame. Additionally, enquiries can be made if it contains the name of an ineligible person” Minister.

Aswesuma What We know So Far

The necessary work is also being carried out in this regard by Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe and Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, according to the PMD.

Accordingly, if an individual or family in need of economic stability has lost this benefit, there is an opportunity to correct it by making inquiries through the Divisional Secretariats during the relevant period.

The Government emphasizes that the basic requirement of the ‘Aswesuma’ program is to provide the necessary contribution to the people who need economic stability, and not to meet the needs of various parties based on a mere political process.

The Government advises against panicking as a result of yielding to political instigation or external influences if your name is not on the currently published list or if the name of an ineligible individual is on it. Instead, make any pertinent queries through the Divisional Secretariat Offices. 

The Government further informs the applicants that they can contact the Divisional Secretary for assistance with any issues that may have developed with regard to their applications, it said.

Earlier today, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe stated that the Welfare Benefit Board would intervene if any injustice is observed in the beneficiary selection process.

Taking into Twitter, he also notified that the relevant officials have been informed so that the people can hand over appeals and objections under the ‘Aswasuma’ welfare benefits program personally at the Divisional Secretariats across the island.

For any further inquiries, the general public can contact the hotline number 1924 which is operational on weekdays from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., according to the minister.