COLOMBO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- About 300,000 new families are eligible for Sri Lanka's Aswesuma social welfare program, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on Thursday.
Acting Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said in the statement that Aswesuma benefits are currently being received by over 1.7 million families.
The ministry said 5,209 families who were receiving benefits became ineligible following appeals and objections.
The Sri Lankan government said recently that it would increase the Aswesuma social welfare program to cover 2.4 million families because of the difficult economic situation in the country.
Sri Lanka has allocated 205 billion rupees (628.8 million dollars) in the budget for the payment of the Aswesuma social welfare program in 2024.
5 takeaways from the global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution
Shouguang: 'China's Hometown of Vegetables'
Proof you CAN outrun bad genes with just four lifestyle tweaks
Entrepreneur Serves Motherland, Promotes Hometown's Development
How China Transformed into a Leading Economy
Lost in Love Song Melody, Scenery in Kangding
Finnish hacker imprisoned for accessing thousands of psychotherapy records and demanding ransoms
Flight Attendant Escorts Overseas Chinese on Return Home