A supplementary estimate amounting to Rs. 47 billion has been presented to parliament today (04) to ease the financial burden on the public arising from rising fuel prices and provide additional financial assistance to Aswesuma beneficiaries.
Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando presenting the supplementary estimate said a sum of Rs. 41 billion would be allocated under the expenditure head of the Ministry of Energy, while the remaining Rs. 6 billion would be allocated through the operational programme of the Ministry of Finance and Planning to provide additional assistance under the Aswesuma welfare programme.
He said the Rs. 41 billion allocation would be used over October, November and December to minimise the impact of fuel price increases on consumers in the domestic market, resulting from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Under the additional relief measures, beneficiaries in the extremely poor category of the Aswesuma programme will receive an additional payment of Rs. 6,250, while those in the poor category will receive Rs. 4,000.
The Deputy Minister clarified that the additional payment for the extremely poor category would be disbursed in two instalments, although it would constitute a one-time benefit.
He further stated that the supplementary estimate would not result in additional expenditure, as the required funds would be sourced through the reallocation and management of existing budgetary provisions from other sectors.
