• Removals follow reassessment under 22 criteria: WBB 
• Vulnerable and Transitional category payments already discontinued

The Welfare Benefits Board (WBB) has said that 954,885 individuals have been removed from all four Aswesuma beneficiary categories following the latest recertification, while noting that payments to those previously classified under the vulnerable and transitional categories had already ended in accordance with earlier gazette notifications.

“According to the gazette, payments to the Transitional category ended last December, although the deadline was extended until April. Payments to the Vulnerable category also ended last June. Going forward, we will be making payments to those classified as Poor and Severely Poor,” WBB Chairman Nimal Kotawalagedara said.

He explained that the current payment arrangements covered only the Poor and Severely Poor categories, while those under the Vulnerable and Transitional categories, comprising 248,251 and 188,694 people, respectively, could potentially be directed towards alternative assistance, including empowerment and Samurdhi-related programmes in the future.

Kotawalagedara noted that the removal of 954,885 individuals from all four categories was part of the recertification exercise aimed at addressing inclusion and exclusion errors identified during the previous beneficiary selection process in 2023.

According to him, 23,364 individuals previously classified as Severely Poor and 102,915 individuals from the Poor category had been removed following the reassessment, while others had shifted between categories depending on their updated assessments.

He stressed that the reassessment was not based solely on household income, but instead on 22 criteria developed by the Department of Census and Statistics, covering factors including housing conditions, disability, age, household size, sources of income, and land ownership.

“Poverty is not just about income. In addition to income, we consider 22 other criteria. All these factors are taken into account when determining eligibility for the Poor and Severely Poor categories,” he said.

He added that information provided by applicants was verified by survey officers, with the final categorisation determined through a scoring system operated by the Integrated Welfare Management System (IWMS).

“The selection process is not influenced by personal preferences, friendships, or political connections. The scoring and selection is carried out through our system. Survey officers verify the claims provided by beneficiaries, while the selection committee further reviews the information and directs it into the system,” he added.

The Chairman said that approximately 95% of divisional secretariats had submitted their assessments, resulting in the publication of an initial list comprising 991,800 individuals. A further list covering approximately 700,000 individuals is expected following the completion of the remaining assessments, with payments and arrears expected to be made in November.

“For the second release, about 5% of assessments remain to be approved at divisional secretariat level from this 95%. We expect to make payments, including arrears, in November. There are approximately 700,000 people, of whom around 200,000 could shift to the Poor and Severely Poor categories. Therefore, we do not expect a substantial reduction from the amounts paid so far, although there may be some minor changes,” he noted.

Addressing concerns over wrongful exclusions, Kotawalagedara said that individuals whose status had changed or those who had not been selected could submit appeals within the designated 10-day period, while objections could also be lodged by members of the public and voluntary organisations.

He added that appeals and objections would be reviewed by committees headed by divisional secretaries, with affected households subject to a fresh assessment by officers who had not conducted the original survey. The public can also contact the WBB through its hotline, 1924, to make inquiries.

Kotawalagedara said that the beneficiary lists would be published in all three languages, adding that individual notices would not be issued to all those excluded given the large number of applicants.

Under the revised payment arrangements, individuals categorised as Severely Poor receive Rs. 17,500, while those in the Poor category receive Rs. 12,000.