•  Govt targets gradual exit between 2027 and 2029
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•  Questions remain over beneficiary selection, misuse of payments

Nearly 100,000 Aswesuma beneficiary families have begun earning a stable income through alternative support programmes since the introduction of the welfare scheme, with the Government hoping to gradually stop welfare payments for as many families as possible over the next three years (2027-2029), it is learnt.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (12), Deputy Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment Minister, Wasantha Piyathissa said the Government is working towards helping beneficiaries move away from long-term dependence on welfare assistance, although many families are still not financially stable enough for the payments to be stopped. “As per the agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there are specific timeframes for Aswesuma payments to each category to stop. But, the income levels of many beneficiaries have not increased enough for us to discontinue the assistance,” he said.

He added that the present Government had taken over the programme midway and begun implementing changes through its Budget presented in May of last year (2025). “There has been some progress. Since the programme began, around 100,000 families have started receiving a substantial income through other support programmes. But, our aim is to help more families become financially independent,” he said.

The related alternative support programmes include assistance to start self-employment activities, the provision of grants, support for small-scale chicken farms, opportunities to learn the Japanese language and seek employment overseas, as well as referrals to vocational training centres.

He further said that the Government hoped to stop Aswesuma payments to as many families as possible during the next three years by creating opportunities for beneficiaries to improve their livelihoods and income levels.

The Aswesuma welfare programme was introduced in 2023 during the Presidency of Ranil Wickremesinghe, with welfare payments commencing on 1 July of that year. Under the scheme, households categorised as transitional initially received Rs. 2,500 per month, vulnerable households Rs. 5,000, poor households Rs. 7,500 and extremely poor households Rs. 15,000. Several payment categories were later increased after the National People's Power Government assumed office.

The remarks come amid ongoing public discussion over the implementation of the Aswesuma scheme, including complaints that some low-income families who qualify for assistance have not received benefits, while certain ineligible households have reportedly been included in the beneficiary list. There has also been criticism over how some recipients use the funds, with allegations that part of the allowance is spent on non-essential consumption instead of supporting household needs or income-generating activities.