The Cabinet approval has been granted for the extension of financial assistance to low-income families by five more months, from May to September 2023.
The government’s focus is on the speedy initiation of a new welfare benefits payment scheme, for which the survey to identify the beneficiaries using new qualifications and criteria is currently underway across the island, says the Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardena.
Joining the Cabinet press conference held this morning (Jan. 17), Minister Gunawardena highlighted that, in order to avoid the difficulties that vulnerable families may have to face due to the prevailing extremely tough economic conditions, necessary provisions have been allocated through the 2023 budget to provide monetary relief for them within the first four months of 2023.
Accordingly, pending the completion of the survey which has been initiated and the introduction of the proposed new welfare benefits payment scheme, the financial assistance to low-income families allocated in the 2023 budget will be extended for five more months from May to September 2023.
The relevant proposal has been presented to the Cabinet by the President as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy.
