Protest of the 'Aswesuma' welfare benefit program continue

People of 42 Grama Niladhari divisions of the Medirigiriya Divisional Secretariat joined the protest on Wednesday (05). The protesters were later allowed to meet the Assistant Divisional Secretary to discuss their concerns.

“Aswesuma” welfare benefit payments are an initiation of Ranil Wickremesinghe, which are scheduled to commence from July 1st. 
The necessary gazette has been published by the authorities delegated to President Ranil Wickremesinghe as Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy.

However, protests have erupted over the selection of names for the Aswesuma welfare benefits program claiming that the surveys carried out to identify the worst affected people were based on inaccurate information.

Protests are staged by people who previously enjoyed the Samurdhi Benefit Program but have been struck off the Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Program.

The protesting groups claim that those who are eligible to receive assistance from the state have been eliminated from the beneficiaries lists, and those who do not qualify for the program have been added as the new beneficiaries.