PARLIAMENT

• Currently, 6 out of 10 people in Sri Lanka are in the economic risk zone

It was disclosed at the Committee on Ways and Means that 12.3 million people out of the 22.16 million of the population of Sri Lanka have reached the economic risk level, according to the policy report based on the Multidimensional Risk Index called the National Citizen Survey issued by the United Nations Development Program for the year 2022-23.  According to the report, 6 out of every 10 people in Sri Lanka are at risk. It is 55.7%. In rural areas this is as high as 82%. Puttalam district is the most vulnerable area and its percentage is 71.8%.

The discussion on this was held at the Committee on Ways and Means held under the Chairmanship of Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka today (Oct. 4) at the Parliament premises. The government's social welfare program, social security network was discussed at the Committee meeting held. Officials of many Government institutions including the Department of Social Services, Sri Lanka Social Security Board, Welfare Benefits Board, Ministry of Finance were also present at this discussion.

According to the said report, in the development of this situation in Sri Lanka, the 2019 Easter Sunday attack, 2020 Covid-19 epidemic, 2022 economic crisis in April, budget deficit, balance of payment crisis, debt obligations, the GDP growth rate in 2022 has moved to a negative of 7.8.

The Committee Chair mentioned that according to the relevant report, the United Nations Development Program has indicated this dangerous situation under three sectors. Accordingly; Education, health and natural disasters, living standards are the three sectors. The chairman pointed out that currently 6 out of 10 people in Sri Lanka are in the risk zone, and after a year this situation may increase to 8 out of 10 people. Therefore, Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka emphasized the need to prepare a formal and strong social safety net for the vulnerable people. School attendance of students, health, water, food. The United Nations Development Program has considered 12 issues including the ability to face disasters, the ability to adapt, the quality of life, property, unemployment, lack of adequate employment, indebtedness.

The Committee Chair asked the respective officials regarding the progress of the survey conducted by the Welfare Benefits Board regarding the 'Awaswasum' benefit programme’. This survey was conducted by the Welfare Benefits Board in accordance with the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002, and 3.7 million families have received applications for this, and the data has been collected from 3.5 million families, the officials of the Board said. Out of this, 1.79 million families have been selected as uninsured beneficiaries. For this, more than 20 criteria including education, health, economic level have been considered.

The Chair pointed out that the survey work has been successful due to providing a vivid criterion. In addition to this, due to giving incorrect criteria in the selection of uninsured beneficiaries, it was disclosed that it resulted in more than 400,000 beneficiaries not submitting applications, not collecting data and information properly, the complexity of the appeal process, inclusion of wrong information due to deficiencies in the applicant's mobile phone application, many concerns such as non-inclusion of certain information.

Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Committee Chair, pointed out that the new system introduced to carry out the process for selecting the beneficiaries in a formal and proper manner has failed more than the existing system. As the main reason, he pointed out; Village officers, development officers, agricultural research officers and development officers have no experience in the field and therefore to use a new group instead of using them. Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka also pointed out that the relevant experienced officers could not join for this due to their professional issues, and they could have been brought together for the related survey after considering those issues.

On 31.07.2023, out of 1.7 million people selected as insurance beneficiaries, benefits have been paid 1.1 million people, and for the remaining more 500,000, several reasons have affected the delay in the payment of benefits, the officials said. Delays in opening bank accounts, appeals and objections, entering the same national identity number twice or more than once, bank account number being inconsistent with the NIC number, errors such as number mismatch, giving the same account number by different people have caused the delay. Officials pointed out that by October 31st, these issues will be solved and benefits can be given for the rest of the people.

The Committee Chair on the Committee on Ways and Means emphasized that the country has become bankrupt and people are losing their income, and the common people are facing many serious problems regarding the education of their children. Within the span of last 3 years, the expenditure tripled while the income remained unchanged. Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka pointed out that it is not practical and humane to find such group of people who are becoming extremely poor in the society facing such difficulties only by using 20 parameters. He also stated that this process should be based on a simple parameter that no one can falsify, such as the electricity bill, and these benefits should be released to the needy people as soon as possible. He reiterated the need to contribute to this, including the Grama Niladhari officials, Samurdhi officials who can deal with the public.

The Committee Chair who instructed the officials to send an updated report of the report presented today to the Committee in the first week of November stating that he will bring the report to the attention of all the Parliamentarians.

It was disclosed that the welfare allowances of disabled, elderly and kidney patients have been paid for the months of July and August, and the allowances are scheduled to be released in September. Benefits have been released for 72000 elderly, 416667 disabled and 39150 persons with kidney disease. Officials said that the senior allowance will be sent through the post office, and other allowances will be sent through the regional secretariat.

Members of Parliament Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Hon. Ishak Rahuman, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara, Hon. Niroshan Perera, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Hon. J. C. Alawathuwala, Hon. B. Y. G. Rathnasekara, Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna, Hon. Udayana Kirindigoda, Hon. Asanka Navarathna, Hon. Jagath Kumara, Hon. K. P. S. Kumarasiri and Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi were present at the Committee meeting held.