The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) As at 2025.01.31: - Samurdhi Development Officers in service: 17,624 - Vacancies in the cadre: 2,513 (ii) Yes. Approval has been sought from the Government Staff Recruitment Committee. (iii) As at 2025.01.31: - Samurdhi Managers in service: 2,093 - Samurdhi Managers covering duties: 1,928 (iv) From establishment of the Department in 2014 up to 2024.12.31: - Retired Samurdhi Development Officers: 2,756 - Retired Samurdhi Managers: 190 Total: 2,946 (v) Number receiving pension as at 2024.12.31: 2,481 - SDOs: 2,332 - Managers: 149 Of 465 pending pension files, about 278 were forwarded to the Department of Pensions by 2025.03.01; balance files are being regularized (financial clearances, missing documents, unpaid 60%, etc.).

¶ 03 (b) (i) No. The immediate supervisory officer of an SDO is the Samurdhi Manager. Functions: - SDOs: community empowerment; identification of low-income beneficiaries; Samurdhi bank deposit mobilization; microcredit disbursement and recovery; social security activities; forming grassroots organizations, etc. - Samurdhi Managers: supervision and management of Samurdhi Banks; deployment and facilitation of officers for community empowerment; coordination; arranging credit facilities for members’ livelihood development, etc. (ii) Yes. Both categories have promotion schemes implemented via competitive selections. (iii) Schemes (summarized): - For SDOs: Method 01 – Promotion to Management Assistant (MN-02): • Limited recruitment stream: minimum O/L with six passes including Language and Mathematics within not more than two sittings; A/L passes as prescribed; plus minimum 05 years satisfactory service in departmental MN-01/MA 1-1 grades (or 10 years under specified alternative). • Merit stream: from first grade officers in MN-01/MA 1-1. Method 02 – Promotion to Manager (MN-04): • Limited stream: Degree from a UGC-recognized university/institution and 05 years satisfactory service (applicable to officers in MN-02, Admin/PL/MA/IT/Audit/Accounts/Technical and related grades as specified), or 10 years service under specified alternatives. - For Samurdhi Managers: Method 01 – Promotion to Special Grade Manager (MN-7): • Limited stream: confirmed officers in departmental MN-6, MN-4, MA 5-2, MA-3, PL codes with 10 years satisfactory service; or merit stream from first grade officers in MN-6, MN-4, MA 5-2, MA-3. Method 02 – Promotion to Executive Service Category (JM 1-2 / SL-1 equivalents per code): • Limited stream: UGC-recognized degree and minimum 05 years satisfactory service in specified departmental grades; or 10/15 years service pathways as stipulated (including MN-7, JM 1-2 and related pay codes).

¶ 04 (c) (i) Number of Samurdhi Bank Societies: 1,097 (ii) Planned courses of action under the Samurdhi programme include: 1. Low-Income Household Empowerment Programme: Under the “Aswasuma” welfare benefits scheme, empower beneficiary and low-income families economically, socially and psychosocially to achieve a sustainable, higher standard of living. Target: empower 2 million low-income families over 2025–2029 through five pillars—livelihood promotion; financial inclusion; psychosocial empowerment; social protection; training and mentoring. Implemented islandwide across all districts, DS divisions and GN divisions; beneficiary selection by SDOs and village committees; family development plans and, where relevant, enterprise development plans. 2. “Sipdora” Scholarship Programme: For A/L students from low-income families: Rs. 1,500 monthly for two academic years (Rs. 36,000 per student). Target for 2025: 56,000 students. 3. Microfinance Loan Programme: Loans from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5,000,000 at concessional rates via Samurdhi Banks and Bank Societies for livelihoods, income generation, housing improvement, consumption and disaster needs. Plan to serve 0.3 million beneficiaries in 2025. A parallel deposit-mobilization programme from members, non-members and minors to fund credit demand.

¶ 05 (d) Not applicable.