The Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Program has extended its special allowances for transitional and vulnerable categories, increasing the monthly payment to Rs. 5000 per beneficiary, effective June 2024. This decision, directed by President Ranil Wickramasinghe, aims to provide additional financial support in light of the current economic challenges.
On June 27, the Welfare Benefits Board deposited 11.6 billion rupees into the bank accounts of 622,495 beneficiaries. This payment covers the special allowance for June 2024 under the extended Aswesuma Benefit Program.
Initially, benefit payments under the program began in July 2023, with Rs. 2500 per month allocated to the transitional category from December 2023 to March 2024. The vulnerable category also received payments from July 2023 to March 2024.
Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board, Jayantha Wijeratne, confirmed that the payment system for beneficiaries in the extremely poor and poor groups will continue under the existing framework.
