News

“Aswesuma” welfare benefit payment from 01 July

Published

12 months ago

May 9, 2023

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given directions for the initiation of “Aswesuma” welfare benefit payments, which are scheduled to commence from July 1st.

The necessary gazette has been published in accordance with the authorities delegated to President Ranil Wickremesinghe as Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy.

Accordingly, these payments will be distributed among four social categories, namely transitional, vulnerable, poor, and extremely poor. Additionally, the usual allowances for the differently-abled, elderly, and kidney patients will also be provided

Accordingly, 400,000 transitional beneficiaries will receive Rs.2,500.00 per month until December 31, 2023, 400,000 vulnerable beneficiaries will receive Rs.5,000.00 per month until March 31, 2024, 800,000 poor beneficiaries will receive Rs.8,500.00 per month, and extremely poor beneficiaries will receive Rs.15,000.00 per month for three years beginning July 1, 2023.

Currently, 72,000 differently abled people getting welfare benefits will each receive Rs.5000.00 per month, 39,150 people receiving kidney support will each receive Rs.5000.00, and 416,667 people receiving senior assistance would each receive Rs.2000.00.

Around 3,712,096 applications for welfare benefits have been received from 340 Divisional Secretariats across the island, with 91.5% of the process of verifying program information to identify those who are eligible for payment of these welfare benefits completed as of yesterday (08).

The data has been monitored through selection committees consisting of three members at the regional office level, and the process of approval by the district secretary has also started.

The highest number of applications that have been confirmed and finalized are from Vavuniya district, which is 98% followed by 96.5% from Kandy district, 96% from Kilinochchi district, 96% from Jaffna district and 95.5% from Trincomalee district respectively, 3,362,040 applications covering the entire island have been verified so far.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Sannasgala arrested

Published

48 mins ago

April 25, 2024

editor

Popular tutor and social media personality – Mr. Upul Shantha Sannasgala has been arrested.

According to reports, he has been arrested over failing to return a borrowed sum of Rs. 01 million to an individual within a month’s time as promised.

He is to be produced before the Welisara Magistrate Court later today.

Further investigations are underway.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Parliament approves 3-month paid leave for Sampanthan

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

editor

Parliament today (April 25) approved a request to provide a 03 month-long paid leave for former Opposition leader and Trincomalee District MP – R. Sampanthan.

The Opposition Chief Whip Lakshman Kiriella has made the request which was seconded by Tamil National Alliance MP – Charles Nirmalanathan.

MP Sampanthan, who is 91 years of age, is currently in poor health.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

BIZ

CBSL urged to seek overseas travel ban against Dharmasena

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

editor

Chairman of the ‘Magen Ratata’ organization – Sanjaya Mahawatta has submitted a formal complaint to the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), with regard to the “Pintanna Plantation” cultivation project founded by former cricketer – Kumara Dharmasena.

In his complaint, Mr. Mahawatta says that the project is accepting investment deposits from the public without a license from the CBSL to do so.

Noting that this project has misled the public and accepted deposits violating the provisions of the Part II of the Finance Business Act. No. 42 of 2011, Mr. Mahawattha’s complaint further notes that the project is being advertised on print media and on Facebook.

Overseas travel ban

Noting that there is a possibility of Mr. Dharmasena fleeing with these funds, Mr. Mahawatta has also urged the CBSL to seek an overseas travel ban against Mr. Dharmasena.

In a recent media briefing, the CBSL had stated that it is illegal to obtain investments from the public for cultivation projects such as Agarwood, Vanilla, Mango, Teak etc. in the promise of high interest rate returns. The CBSL added that their Non-Banking Financial Institutions Supervision Department has initiated a comprehensive investigation on such companies.

Speaking, Assistant Governor of the CBSL – K.G.P. Sirikumara had said that it was a criminal offense to go against the rates implemented by the CBSL and accept deposits from the public.

Only companies authorized by the CBSL are legally allowed to accept such deposits, he pointed out.

The CBSL further disclosed that they are looking into details pertaining to the former cricketer’s project.