The Ranil-flower bud coalition government, which announced that it would implement a new welfare programme called ‘Aswasuma’ for the more than seven million people who were unable to sustain their lives after the country’s economy went bankrupt, has suffered a heavy defeat in the face of the opposition to its cutting down even the meagre welfare that existed until then.
In addition to the Samadhi Allowance, the Disability Welfare Allowance, Kidney Disease Allowance and Elderly Allowance were cut through ‘Aswasuma’. Also, a large number of poor people who were enjoying welfare were cut off under ‘Aswasuma’. The coalition government has had to re-implement subsidies to some people in the face of protests across the country against these cuts.
As such, Finance Minister of State Shehan Semasinghe has stated that the dependents of low-income families and the elderly will be given the same allowance as before. Although the Minister of State has stated this, no cabinet paper has been submitted to allocate the necessary funds. In the face of public opposition against the programme carried out by the government fulfilling the IMF conditions, the government is backtracking to the point of declaring that it will provide the same social subsidies again.
