News
Poorest get more support via World Bank, ADB funding
View(s):By Jayanie Madawala
Sri Lanka’s social safety net for the most vulnerable has been increased slightly with funding from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Samurdhi provides direct cash transfers and other livelihood activities to the poorest.
Samurdhi Director General Bandula Thilakasiri said households earning Rs. 7,500 per month and below are eligible.
According to the Department of Census & Statistics, the national poverty line for February, 2022 is Rs. 5,972.
The poverty line takes into account the cost of basic needs.
Mr Thilakasiri said the monthly Samurdhi allowance of a family, who received Rs 4,500 would be entitled to Rs 7,500 from this month. A family who got Rs 1,900 would be entitled to get upto Rs 5,000 and a family who received Rs 3,200 would be entitled to Rs 6,200.
Accordingly Rs 3,000 was added from the World Bank funds.
“We have already paid for May and June. The allowances come through Samurdhi community based banks,’’ he said.
The extra allowance is given through US$200 million from the World Bank. For the following months, the Asian Development Bank will fund the allowance.
Accordingly 16,000 families receiving Samurdhi will receive the increased allowance.
However, low-income earners on the waiting list are also eligible to receive the allowance this month.
A subsidy of Rs.5,000 is being given to those who do not have a sufficient income and who
are suffering from chronic kidney disease.
More than 450,000 recipients received this last month.
Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis are playing a big role in directing the programme.
Since September 2021, consumer prices, especially food prices, have been surging and has reached record levels. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, a 21.5% year-on-year inflation was reported last month.
M.T.S. Gunathilaka a grama niladhari of the Matugama Divisional Secretariat said the government allowance of Rs. 5,000 has been increased to Rs 7,500 a month for three months until August.
“There are 60 Samurdhi recipients in my division and 12 among those who were in the waiting list also received the allowance after the increase.’’
Dry rations including rice
and 1kg of milk powder were
also distributed.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!