The government took steps to provide Rs. 5,000 allowance for Samurdhi recipients as well as low income earners for the New Year. The government emphasizes that this program is still active. The Presidential Task Force on Economic Rehabilitation and Poverty Alleviation and the Department of Samurdhi Development are implementing the program of providing an allowance of Rs. 5000. The allowance will be given to Samurdhi recipients, low income earners, the elderly, the disabled and kidney patients receiving the Centenary Full Elder Allowance. Arrangements have been made to provide it today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow to those who were unable to obtain it in the past. The government has also taken steps to provide an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to low income Muslims for the Ramadan fasting season. An allowance of Rs. 5,000 is being given to 5200 Samurdhi recipients in the Elapatha Divisional Secretariat Division in the Nivithigala Electorate. Minister of State Janaka Wakkumbura stated that steps have been taken to end the payment of this allowance within the next two days. Steps were taken to provide an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to 7074 beneficiaries in the Dodamgoda Divisional Secretariat Division. The amount allocated for this is 24 million rupees. Meanwhile, a Samurdhi Development Officer who was engaged in the payment of an allowance of Rs. 5,000 in the Agbowa Samurdhi area in Alawwa has been assaulted. He is currently receiving treatment at the Alawwa Hospital and the assailant has been arrested, police said. Minister of State Shehan Semasinghe inspected the health of the assaulted Samurdhi officer.