• Protestors demand urgent re-evaluation of selection process to weed-out the undeserving and include the deserving, complaint made to HRCSL  
• Approx.190,000 appeals and objections received thus far 

The country is currently seeing a series of protests in many areas against the method by which beneficiaries have been selected for the Aswesuma Social Welfare Programme.

Under the Aswesuma programme, monthly allowances varying from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 15,000 will be provided to four categories of families, namely transitional, vulnerable, poor, and extremely poor, for a specific period of time. The list of beneficiaries of the programme had been publicised last week, and several parties are claiming that the selection process had not been carried out properly.

The people who had come to the Kesbewa Divisional Secretariat (DS) to submit Aswesuma related appeals engaged in a protest in front of the DS yesterday. The protestors, who claimed that many families who are not facing economic hardships have been selected to receive welfare benefits under the Aswesuma programme, demanded that a reevaluation of the selection process be done as soon as possible.

In addition, the people engaged in protests in front of DS offices in many other parts of the country, including Wellawaya, Bibila, Karandeniya, Kolonnawa, Ratmalana, Anuradhapura, Akmeemana, Bandarawela, Kantale, Dimbulagala, Biyagama, Hasalaka, Ratnapura and Hanguranketha. The protestors in some areas were seen blocking the main roads and engaging in protests as well as attempting to forcibly enter the DS offices that had allegedly delayed the acceptance of the appeals.

Meanwhile, the representative of the New People's Front (NPF) yesterday (27) handed over a complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) seeking justice for the people whom they said have unfairly been denied benefits under the Aswesuma programme. After handing over the complaint, they engaged in a silent protest in front of the HRCSL. They were carrying placards, some of which read "Who decided the criteria for selection for the Aswesuma?", "What relief has the Aswesuma brought to the poor?" and "What is the use of Aswesuma?"

In the wake of island-wide protests over the matter, the Government has decided to extend the deadline of accepting appeals and objections with regard to the Aswesuma programme, which was scheduled to end on 30 June, until 10 July. The appeals and objections can be made via the official website of the Welfare Benefits Board www.wbb.gov.lk or to the relevant DS office in written format.

The Aswesuma welfare benefit payments are scheduled to commence from 1 July. Under the programme, a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,500 will be provided to the transitional category, Rs. 5,000 to the vulnerable category, Rs. 7,500 to the poor category, and Rs. 15,000 to the extremely poor category. The usual provision of allowances for the differently-abled, the elderly, and kidney patients will continue, while the payment of Samurdhi allowances will not.

Speaking to The Daily Morning last week, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary and Government Parliamentarian, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that they had identified several deficiencies in the Aswesuma programme, particularly the selection process. "We saw the relevant parties that implemented this programme themselves saying that they had to deploy another group and select beneficiaries as the relevant officers refused to do it. It is very wrong to work in such an irresponsible manner regarding the most vulnerable social group of the country. We, as the SLPP, are very strict on this matter. We intend to exert strong pressure to correct the deficiencies and reevaluate the selection process. We will be asking the President not to play with the lives of the poor," he said.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that the Government is always adopting a flexible approach with regard to the Aswesuma programme. "As the Government, our aim is to provide relief through this programme to everyone who is in need. If there is anyone who is eligible to receive benefits, but is not in the list of beneficiaries, they should not panic at all. They can make an appeal. If anyone who is not eligible to receive these benefits is in the relevant list, any person can submit an objection to such." 

Meanwhile, nearly 190,000 appeals have been received thus far pertaining to the beneficiaries list of the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefits scheme, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. Accordingly, 188,794 appeals and 3,304 objections have been received so far, Semasinghe clarified, adding that for any further inquiries, the general public can contact the hotline number ‘1924’ which is operational on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

On 25 June, he announced that all relevant officials have been informed so that the people can hand over appeals and objections under the ‘Aswesuma’ social security scheme personally at the DSs across the island.

“The final beneficiary list of the Aswesuma’ Social Welfare Programme is not published yet and after evaluating the appeals and objections received, the Government Agents (GAs) and Assistant GAs will publish the final beneficiary list. If further injustice is found, the Welfare Benefits Board will intervene,” he said in a Twitter statement dated 24 June.

Meanwhile, on 25 June, the President’s Media Division (PMD) noted that the Government is paying close attention to certain parties’ attempts to satisfy their political needs by giving the ‘Aswesuma’ programme a political façade.

However, the Government assured that any shortcomings in the process of selecting the relevant candidates will be rectified immediately and that plans are being made to discuss this with the District and Divisional Secretaries, and the other parties involved in the programme in the coming week.