The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I raise this question.

¶ 02 The “Aswesuma” welfare benefits programme determines eligibility for approximately 2.4 million beneficiary families based on 22 socio-economic indicators. The official basis for poverty measurement, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), was last conducted in 2019. No survey was conducted in 2022, and while the 2025 survey is underway, results have not yet been published.

¶ 03 Hon. Speaker, this is very important because it is through Aswesuma that relief is provided by the Government. There is doubt whether those who genuinely should receive the benefit are included.

¶ 04 Sri Lanka faced its worst post-independence economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the “Aragalaya.” According to the World Bank, the poverty rate rose from about 11 percent to over 25 percent. Therefore, Sri Lanka currently makes welfare determinations without an updated national poverty estimate. The only post-crisis estimate is from the World Bank, which is not a substitute for domestic surveys and historically differs from Government projections.

¶ 05 Accordingly, I seek clarifications from the Hon. Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on:

¶ 06 1. Whether the Government has an updated post-2019 national poverty rate estimate; if so, has it been published? 2. When the Government expects to complete and publish the results of the 2025 HIES? 3. After publishing the 2025 survey results, will the Government reframe Aswesuma eligibility criteria before the next programme phase? If so, what is the timeline? 4. Based on the most recent payment cycle (Extreme Poor, Poor, Vulnerable, Elderly, Disabled and Kidney Patients), what are the total active beneficiaries by category at district level? 5. How many total appeals have been lodged against Aswesuma eligibility decisions? How many resolved? What percentage were allowed in favour of appellants, by district and Aswesuma category? 6. Beyond the announced fuel price reliefs, what additional measures will the Government take to protect households newly at risk due to the Middle East crisis-driven cost-of-living impact? Given current delays, errors and inefficiencies in Aswesuma administration, what mechanism will deliver that protection?