Committee to depoliticise Samurdhi welfare program

Committee to be headed by Social Empowerment 

Minister P. Harrison

By Skandha Gunasekara

A committee is to be appointed under the Ministry of Social Empowerment to curb the politicisation of the Saumrdhi welfare program, UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman told the Daily FT. 

The decision to appoint the committee was taken at a meeting held yesterday at Temple Trees between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Ministers and MPs. 

Accordingly, MP Rahuman said that several UNPers had pointed out that the Samurdhi program had become increasingly politicised, diluting its true purpose.  “Many ministers and MPs noted that the Samurdhi program, particularly the Samurdhi officers, were political appointees. Therefore a decision was taken to appoint a committee to resolve these issues,”

He said that committee would look into other problems within the Samurdhi program as well.

However, no decision was taken regarding an increment in the Samurdhi beneficiary, Rahuman added. 

The Committee is to be headed by new Social Empowerment Minister P. Harrison.

Previously, this ministry was led by Minister S.B. Dissanayake. 

UNP backbencher group to boycott PM’s events

A group of backbencher UNP parliamentarians have decided to boycott the events of party leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, starting with the shunning of yesterday’s UNP group meeting at Temple Trees.

UNP MP Heshan Withanage told the Daily FT that they had decided to do so due to the Prime Minister’s failure to address their grievances, adding that a group of backbencher MPs are to meet the Premier today.

“We will meet the Prime Minister and tell him our issues regarding the party leadership hierarchy. We will especially speak of Minister Sajith Premadasa and his future in the party. However, if we do not receive a favourable response, we will continue the boycott,” said MP Withanage.

Elaborating further, the MP said that the group of backbenchers MPs were concerned with the future of the UNP and its leadership. 

“We want Sajith Premadasa to be at least nominated as the future leader of the party.” (SG)