The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development
On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Deputy Minister provided figures on Aswesuma appeals and objections, stating that 57,770 reviewed cases had been sent for Welfare Benefits Board approval and that payments would begin once beneficiaries opened bank accounts. He said a scientific selection method and integrated digital welfare management system were in use, legal action had been initiated over relevant irregularities, and recovered amounts could not yet be stated because proceedings were ongoing. He added that no further allowance increase was currently proposed, but empowerment programmes were being implemented through Samurdhi, with specified domestic and foreign allocations for 2026.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development:
¶ 02 (a) (i) Appeals – 61,964; Objections – 6,295.
¶ 03 (ii) Appeals committees at Divisional Secretariats have reviewed cases and forwarded 57,770 for approval by the Welfare Benefits Board.
¶ 04 (iii) The Board granted approval on 13 March 2026; once beneficiaries open accounts, payments are effected immediately.
¶ 05 (b) (i) A scientific selection methodology and integrated digital welfare management system (IWMS) are already in operation and are being further developed.
¶ 06 (ii) Not applicable.
¶ 07 (iii) Yes.
¶ 08 (iv) Yes. Legal action has been instituted.
¶ 09 (v) Legal processes are not yet concluded; therefore, exact recovered amounts cannot be stated.
¶ 10 (c) (i) Not proposed. However, since the new Government assumed office, necessary steps have been taken to clearly increase allowances for Aswesuma beneficiaries.
¶ 11 (ii) Yes. Empowerment programmes are implemented by the Department of Samurdhi Development.
¶ 12 (iii) Yes. For 2026, domestically, Rs. 34,636 million has been allocated to the Samurdhi Social Security Fund and Rs. 3,700 million from the Ministry. Foreign support: World Bank – Rs. 1,106 million; ADB – Rs. 205 million.
¶ 13 (d) Does not arise.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 7 April 2026 ·No. 23476 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 7 April 2026. No. 23476. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/497