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

¶ 01 The answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) The current Ministry does not possess complete data on the total financial assistance provided in 2020-2021 across Government. However, under the Department of Samurdhi Development (then under this Ministry), an amount of LKR 58,760 million was expended for COVID-related social benefit payments.

¶ 03 (ii) There is no “Samurdhi Development Fund” established within the Department. The former Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority’s funds transitioned upon departmentalization. The “Samurdhi Fund” under the Department was not used for this purpose. Instead, for COVID-19 social benefit payments in 2020-2021, the Treasury provided financing to the Department under three categories as follows:

¶ 04 - Treasury borrowing against the Department’s fixed deposits, from Bank of Ceylon; - Treasury borrowing against the Department’s fixed deposits, from People’s Bank; and - Treasury obtaining funds from the Department’s Microfinance Division.

¶ 05 Total: LKR 58.76 billion.

¶ 06 (iii) As noted, approximately LKR 58.76 billion.

¶ 07 (iv) The borrowings from Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank, secured against Department deposits, have been repaid with interest (settled in 2023). However, the funds obtained from the Department’s Samurdhi Microfinance Division (drawn in April 2020) were outstanding when we assumed office and were settled on 31 December 2024. The associated interest payable on the Microfinance Division funds has not yet been paid.

¶ 08 (b) Not applicable.