Sri Lanka, March 28 -- In contrast to the eligibility criteria used by Samurdhi, the Aswesuma criteria reflect greater sensitivity to the multiple interlinked deprivations that constitute and contribute to poverty

Photo by Pradeep Pathirana

Aswesuma is the most recent welfare benefits programme introduced by the government of Sri Lanka. It replaces the Samurdhi scheme and is the result of a necessary condition to be fulfilled by the government of Sri Lanka in the loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Aswesuma provides targeted assistance to vulnerable groups by reducing poverty; its goal is to enhance social welfare

and support household

resilience at a time of

economic instability.

The recent months have given ...