The Hon. Nishantha Jayaweera - Deputy Minister of Economic Development

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today’s special debate is on the Aswesuma welfare payment scheme under the Welfare Benefits Act. Benefits are structured under two main social groups. Under the first, four sub-groups are identified: - Transitional group: Rs. 5,000 per month. - Vulnerable group: Rs. 5,000 per month (scheduled to end in April). - Poor group: Rs. 8,500 per month, which the new Government increased to Rs. 10,000. - Severely poor group: previously Rs. 15,000, increased to Rs. 17,500.

¶ 02 Today’s focus is to extend by six months the Rs. 5,000 allowance for the vulnerable group that ended on 31 December 2025, considering “Diththa” cyclone impacts.

¶ 03 The second main group covers elderly, disabled and CKD patients—their allowances continue.

¶ 04 Our clear objective is not to perpetuate dependence but to empower beneficiaries and reduce fiscal burden by integrating them into economic activity. We are implementing a structured, evidence-based plan to rapidly empower beneficiaries.

¶ 05 We also recognize societal concern that some ineligible persons receive benefits. By law, there must be an annual re-registration. We have commenced this, building an electronic data system to identify the right people, deliver benefits within timelines, and then graduate them through empowerment.

¶ 06 On education reforms raised by the Opposition: their arguments would take us back to the slate-and-rule era. These reforms were due long ago. Looking at our Government benches, we have doctors and professors—reform is the way forward.