Cabinet sub-Committee to address Cost of Living issue

The Cabinet of Ministers decided to appoint a Sub-Committee chaired by the President with the Prime Minister, Ministers and State Ministers to provide the necessary policy and practical solutions to keep the Cost of Living (COL) stable.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal presented by the Finance and Samurdhi Ministers to provide a special cash allowance to the identified families from May to July.

This was revealed by Trade and Samurdhi Development Minister Shehan Semasinghe at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department.

Accordingly, the government has decided to allocate Rs.13,364 million to provide relief to low income families who are distressed due to the current economic crisis in the country.

He said low income families entitled to Samurdhi,   Elderly, Kidney and Disability Allowances have been severely affected by the current economic crisis in the country.

The Government has identified the need for immediate relief to those families and the families on the waiting list.

Contingent Emergency Response Components in projects funded by the World Bank Group will provide the necessary funding for that

The government offers a special allowance to persons belonging to four categories now. In addition to the categories of persons receiving the Elderly, Disability Allowance, Kidney and Samurdhi Allowance, there are persons who are eligible for the Allowance Allowance and this amount will be given to those who receive the same for the next three months.

Measures have been taken to increase the old age allowance of Rs.2,000 for senior citizens to Rs.5,000 and the current allowance of Rs. 5,000 for senior citizens above Rs. 2000. An allowance of Rs. 5,000 will also be given to seniors who are currently on the waiting list.

The Rs.5,000 allowance for disabled persons will be increased to Rs.7,500. An allowance of Rs.5,000 is also given to disabled citizens who are on the waiting list. Kidney patients will be given another Rs. 2,500 in addition to the current Rs. 5,000. Those on the waiting list will also be given an allowance of Rs. 5,000.

Arrangements have been made to increase the current Samurdhi allowance from Rs.1,500 to Rs.3,100, to Rs. 3,200 to Rs.3,100 and another Rs. 4500 to Rs. 3000. Another Rs. 5,000 will be provided to another 732,000 families on the waiting list, the Minister said.