Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ In a significant development, Sri Lanka has unveiled a novel welfare initiative, facilitated through funding from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aimed at extending direct financial assistance to low-income families. This welfare endeavor, named the Aswasuma scheme, marks the country’s inaugural response to the unparalleled economic turmoil that engulfed it the previous year. The program supersedes the former Samurdhi benefits scheme; however, its implementation has encountered resistance from legislators.
State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe provided insights into the scale of the undertaking, stating that the program aspires to aid two million families. Among these, 1.5 million families have been identified, while an additional one million appeals and 120,000 contested cases are under review. The immediate effect of this initiative will be the disbursement of benefits to 800,000 individuals. He added, “We are targeting 2 million families to benefit from the program. 1.5 million families have been identified, with another 1 million appeals and 120,000 disputed cases. A total of 800,000 people would receive their benefits today”.
This initiative has been structured around four distinct categories, wherein economically disadvantaged individuals will receive monthly cash allocations, varying between 2,500 and 15,000 rupees, for a period of three years starting in July of this year. The Aswesuma program, which seeks to consolidate Sri Lanka’s welfare support system, endeavors to propel the nation toward a state devoid of poverty by the year 2048. An official associated with the initiative emphasized its broader vision of nurturing an entrepreneurial state as opposed to a conventional welfare-centric framework. However, amid these intentions, criticism has emerged regarding the alleged exclusion of deserving candidates from the program.
Originally slated to commence on July 1st, the Aswesuma program aimed to provide a monthly stipend of 15,000 rupees for three years to approximately 400,000 families categorized as severely impoverished. To facilitate this endeavor, the Sri Lanka Welfare Benefits Board is poised to allocate five billion rupees to state-owned banks. Subsequently, this fund will be disbursed to nearly 800,000 Aswesuma beneficiaries in the following days. Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe assured the public that mechanisms are in place to ensure that all eligible citizens partake in this initiative.
Critics of the program contend that its structure is basically flawed, as it only extends benefits to the most vulnerable, leading to the exclusion of a substantial number of former Samurdhi beneficiaries. The contention surrounding this issue has even led to the resignation of the chairperson of the Welfare Benefits Board. It is pertinent to recall that Sri Lanka grappled with an unparalleled financial crisis in 2022, touted as the most severe since its declaration of independence from British colonial rule in 1948. This crisis was fueled by a severe depletion of foreign exchange reserves. The resulting economic upheaval triggered widespread protests, culminating in the removal of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office.
