Govt. to spend Rs.206 b on welfare benefit program

The Government plans to spend Rs. 206 billion annually on welfare benefits programs with a revised process where a social safety net is made to support groups who are truly in need of assistance.

“The new program will come into effect from 1 July. It has also defined costs, timelines and recipients,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

The move comes after raised concerns under the existing welfare system, where some who are truly in need are not getting support due to the lack of an effective mechanism to enter and exit welfare systems.

Following recommendations made by a technical committee, benefits will be paid in a poverty gap to individuals who are poor, who are in extreme poverty and who are at risk.

He also said that a separate benefits program will be made available for the differently-abled, kidney patients and the aged.

The proposal to this effect submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Minister was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday.