Grama Niladhari Association criticizes Aswesuma program criteria

The Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Association has accused the current government of continuing the same informal approach as its predecessor in providing Aswesuma welfare benefits.

In a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the association emphasized the need for accurate criteria to determine eligibility for the program. The association withdrew from the Aswesuma initiative on May 7 last year, citing its informal nature, leaving development officers to handle the task.

Applications for the welfare program remain open until December 9. However, tensions have risen due to allegations of favoritism and inefficiency. In Nuwara Eliya, a traffic jam occurred near the Divisional Secretariat as large crowds gathered despite numbered systems for issuing applications. Similar scenes were reported in Hali Ela, where long queues formed, and residents alleged that benefits were being given to ineligible individuals.