News

“Aswesuma” welfare benefit payment from 01 July

Published

2 years 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)

BIZ

Kunming-Colombo Freight Service Takes Off

Published

22 minutes ago

June 27, 2025

editor

In a boost to bilateral trade, China’s S.F. Airlines launched its inaugural Kunming-Colombo cargo flight yesterday, marking a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s logistics connectivity with Yunnan Province.

S.F. Airlines deployed a Boeing 747-200 aircraft for the inaugural flight, which arrived at BIA from Kunming at 10:50 a.m. yesterday (26), carrying 22 metric tons of cargo.

S.F. Airlines – a major Chinese logistics carrier.

News

Charred remains of man found in a car

Published

27 minutes ago

June 27, 2025

editor

Charred remains of an individual discovered inside a car in a forested area of Diyabate, Mahawa, has been identified as a 49-year-old hotel businessman from Millawa, Kurunegala, police said.

The body was found following a tip-off, and initial investigations confirmed the deceased had gone missing on June 25 after leaving home for a haircut. When he failed to return, his wife lodged a complaint with Doratiyawa Police.

She later identified the body during the investigation. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today (June 27) at Kurunegala General Hospital.

Police have yet to determine whether the death was a suicide or a homicide.

Mahawa Police Headquarters is conducting further investigations.

News

Showers over 50mm expected today

Published

50 minutes ago

June 27, 2025

editor

Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (June 27), the Department of Meteorology said.

Fairly heavy rains of about 50 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40kmph can also be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public has been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.