The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, the “Aswesuma” programme implemented for 3.7 million people living under the poverty line has yielded benefits. Successive governments introduced various schemes through District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis to uplift the livelihoods of those under the poverty line; many succeeded.

¶ 03 Unfortunately, last year, to select beneficiaries for Aswesuma, a sudden youth group was appointed to collect household data for Rs. 300 per household. As a result, many poor people were excluded while the rich and affluent were included, severely affecting the poor across the Eastern Province including Ampara. We have repeatedly requested, including at Ministerial Consultative Committees in Parliament, to change this process, appoint a committee including the District Secretary and Divisional Secretaries with local representation, and ensure justice for those poor who were left out.

¶ 04 Since 1986, I have served as a Gramodaya Mandalaya Chairman. When forming such a village council, it should include mosque, kovil and temple leaders, key community leaders, political party leaders and people’s representatives, bringing unity. However, the current “Praja Shakthi” movement has become a partisan project, causing major disruption at village level. Members are appointed without public disclosure; application forms are secretly issued; and it operates as a single-party activity. We, as the Opposition, have supported the good work of the Government, but we see this as an undemocratic practice.

¶ 05 Yesterday, an urgent circular was sent by the Welfare Benefits Board of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to all District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, Additional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Samurdhi. I table a copy in Parliament.