President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced a major expansion of the Aswesuma welfare scheme, pledging to include an additional 400,000 individuals under the program. The move is part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen the country’s social safety nets and extend support to low-income and vulnerable groups.
The announcement follows a Cabinet decision on March 17, 2025, to revise and enhance the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Scheme for the year. Under the new revisions, monthly payments were increased from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000 for persons with disabilities and chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDU) patients. Elderly citizens will now receive Rs. 5,000, up from the previous Rs. 3,000. These changes are effective from April 2025.
In addition, the benefit period for the Transitional Social Segment has been extended until April 30, 2025, while all other eligible groups will continue receiving payments until December 31, 2025. The scheme will also accommodate newly eligible applicants within the limits of the allocated budget.
The Aswesuma scheme, which has become a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s social assistance policy, now stands to support more than 2.4 million individuals across the country, providing critical relief amid ongoing economic challenges.
