Govt. fast-tracks computerisation of Samurdhi Banks islandwide

The Government has fast-tracked computerisation of all Samurdhi Banks islandwide, a top Minister said this week.

The computerisation initiative is in line with the policy statement ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,’ where 183 out of 1,074 Samurdhi Banks have already been computerised.  

The computerisation of 86 Samurdhi Banks in the Gampaha District is also currently in progress, where 20 of them have been computerised. The first computerised Samurdhi Bank in the Gampaha District – Minuwangoda Yagodamulla, was declared opened by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga on Monday (8).

Ranatunga stated that the computerisation of Samurdhi Banks will be done for the convenience of 1.7 million Samurdhi beneficiaries. He also pointed out that the Government is working to strengthen the Samurdhi movement, which was set for a natural death under the previous regime.

A project to identify and empower 200,000 Samurdhi families has also been launched, where a loan relief program for entrepreneurs through the Samurdhi movement is now in operation as well.

The Minister said that the construction of houses under the Saubhagya Housing Project is also being implemented at present. 

Ranatunga claimed that the previous Government of good governance had acted contrary to the objective of the Samurdhi movement, which was started to eradicate poverty. “The good governance Government had taken steps to provide Samurdhi benefits to the undeserving during the period,” he said.

District Secretary Sunil Jayalath and Minuwangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Kumara Arangalla also participated in the event.