Rs. 68.64 Bn allocated for relief since March

Govt. clarifies monetary allocation to provide relief to families affected due to COVID-19

by Zulfick Farzan 15-11-2020 | 3:10 PM

Colombo (News 1st); The Department of Government Information said the Government's program to provide relief to the people affected by the spread of COVID-19 throughout the island will continue to be implemented through the respective Ministries and District Secretaries.

Rs. 68.64 billion was allocated for the relief programs from March 31st, 2020, when the first wave of COVID-29 spread, to November 13th, following the emergence of the second wave, said a government statement.

In April and May 2020 alone, 11,308,311 families were provided with a relief allowance of Rs. 5000/-.

Following the emergence of the second COVID-29 wave relief was provided to 1,409,578 families under this program during the months of October and November and accordingly 12,717,889 families have been given the relief allowance of Rs.5000/- so far.

A total of 46,411 families have benefited from the Rs. 10,000/- essential food items provision program for those placed in home quarantine.

Also, the Ministry of Agriculture has spent Rs. 126 million to purchase agricultural products with the aim of providing relief to the agrarian community in this situation.

The expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine on quarantine, health, infrastructure and drug supply services was Rs. 4,326 million.

In addition, Rs. 78 million was allocated to District Secretaries for other facilities provided to the public.

In addition to the above expenditure, the Government has spent a considerable amount of the allocated funds for the respective Ministries in the year 2020 following the spread of COVID-29, said the Department of Government Information.