Aswesuma Appeals Open Until November 11; Payments Expected From November 27

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Welfare Benefits Board says appeals regarding the revised Aswesuma beneficiary list can be submitted until November 11.

In an exclusive interview with Newsfirst, Chairman of the Board, Nimal Kotawelagedara highlighted that appeals must be submitted to the respective Divisional Secretariats.

The Chairman said the law allows a period of ten days for submitting appeals, with the deadline set for November 11.

He explained that appeals must be handed over to the respective Divisional Secretariats, as Divisional Secretaries chair the relevant appeals committees.

According to the revised list, approximately 991,800 people have been identified as eligible for Aswesuma benefits. A further 265,315 individuals selected previously will also continue receiving the allowance.

He said the Welfare Benefits Board expects to release the revised beneficiary list on November 27, with payments to selected beneficiaries scheduled to begin during the final week of November.

Meanwhile, another list covering approximately 700,000 people selected through preliminary assessments is awaiting approval. Once approved, the names of those identified under the extremely poor and poor categories will also be published.

Addressing concerns over individuals who have lost their Aswesuma benefits following the revision, Kotawelagedara said an empowerment programme is already being implemented through the Samurdhi Department.

He explained that the Welfare Benefits Board has a separate Memorandum of Understanding with the Samurdhi Department to refer identified individuals for assistance under the programme.

He added that the Board also intends to propose extending these empowerment initiatives to people classified under the vulnerable and transitional categories, in addition to those in the extremely poor and poor categories.