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Funds being allocated for Rs. 2K allowance

26 Aug 2021

  • Distribution begins in Gampaha
By Buddhika Samaraweera The Finance Ministry is taking steps to allocate the money needed for the Government’s programme to pay an allowance of Rs. 2,000 to low income families affected by the prevailing Covid-19-related lockdown situation in the country, as per requests made by relevant District Secretariats (DSs), said the Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle. The Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation on 22 August announced that the Government had decided to pay an allowance of Rs. 2,000 to low income families affected by the temporary closure of the country to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, when contacted by The Morning, Attygalle said that necessary money is being allocated by the Finance Ministry, as per the requests made by the relevant District Secretariats. “There is no need to allocate money to all areas at once. Relevant funds are being allocated as per the requests received from the respective District Secretariats,” he added. He further said that the distribution of the said allowance to the people of the Gampaha District commenced yesterday (25). When queried as to how much money is planned to be allocated for this purpose, Attygalle said that it has not yet been precisely calculated. Meanwhile, commencing the distribution of the said allowance for the people of the Gampaha District yesterday, Gampaha District Secretary Sunil Jayalath said that the allowance would be distributed at all Divisional Secretariat offices in the area. He also said that it is expected to complete the distribution of the allowance as soon as possible. According to the circular issued by the said Task Force, only low income families who do not receive any allowance from the Government are eligible to receive this allowance, and Government employees, retirees, Samurdhi beneficiaries, elderly persons, centenarians, and differently-abled Government monthly beneficiaries are not eligible for it. The Task Force also stated that officials at the Grama Niladhari (GN) Division-level, with the corporation of regional co-ordinating committees and the rural committees, should identify the beneficiaries under an appropriate methodology in accordance with the Covid-19-related health guidelines and take steps to pay this allowance. It is essential to obtain a certification that the allowance has been received by the relevant beneficiary, the Task Force emphasised in the circular issued in this regard.


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