State Minister of Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual, yesterday said that the list of individuals, who are eligible to receive welfare benefits designed for the disabled, elderly and the sick, will be announced next week.
The State Minister also emphasised that there is still time to submit appeals or objections regarding the Aswesuma beneficiaries’ list, if one has not submitted those yet. Trade Unions to the President Director General Saman Ratnapriya has informed the general public to send a copy of the relevant appeals to the Presidential Secretariat, if they are not satisfied with the appeal process.
Furthermore, the United National Party’s (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara stressed that people should not seek to protest against the Aswesuma welfare scheme to fulfill the needs of various political parties.
Both the Sri Lanka Podujana Peremuna and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya have raised concerns about alleged shortcomings in the Aswesuma program, calling on the government to review the program.