The Grama Niladhari (GN) Officers' Union Alliance warned of potential union action, alleging that certain Divisional Secretaries (DS) exert undue pressure on GN officers over the re-review of the Aswesuma social welfare programme.

A 10-member committee was recently appointed by the Government to investigate and prepare a report on Samurdhi beneficiaries who were subjected to injustice during the process of beneficiaries being selected for the Aswesuma programme.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Alliance's Convenor Jagath Chandralal said that the previous Government attempted to get the GN officers to do work related to the Aswesuma programme for a mere allowance of Rs. 2,500, even though the subject matter comes under the purview of Samurdhi development officers. "We withdrew from Aswesuma-related duties at that time, and are still of the same stance. If any GN officer is willing to do it, we will not disrupt it, but, this time around also, the majority of GNs don’t engage in these duties."

If any GN officer is subjected to undue pressure by higher officials with regard to the Aswesuma programme, he said that they, as unions, would come forward for the affected. "We won’t disrupt this national programme. But, the higher officials shouldn’t force GN officers to engage in related duties. We have come to know that certain DSs are exerting pressure on GNs. If they don’t stop doing so, we will launch a union action, and even GN officers who engage in these duties will join us."

The Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, L.G. Wasantha Piyatissa was not available for comment.

Former President and Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had given directions to initiate the Aswesuma programme, which commenced from 1 July of last year (2023). More than eight million people belonging to two million families were reported to benefit from the initiative. Under the programme, a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,500 is provided to those in 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, all for specific periods of time.