Sri Lanka removes 331,653 unqualified recipients from welfare list

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka’s Welfare Benefits Board (WBB) has removed 331,653 unqualified individuals from the Aswesuma welfare registry while adding 153,511 newly eligible beneficiaries following an extensive re-certification process.

The board officially published its first updated list on Wednesday, confirming that 991,800 individuals have qualified to receive cash benefits under the “Poor” and “Extremely Poor” categories.

Under the updated findings, 628,658 individuals qualified under the Poor group and 363,142 under the Extremely Poor group, while 1,391,830 applicants were deemed unqualified. The data review covered 2,383,630 individuals from over 3.12 million submitted self-declarations following social criticism in 2023 that benefits were reaching ineligible persons.

“We believe we have achieved a major victory by ensuring that Aswesuma benefits reach the most eligible beneficiaries, the most deserving individuals, and those who genuinely ought to receive them,” WBB Additional Commissioner D.L.P. Rishan Dharmasena said.

Cash transfers are now strictly limited to two groups. Payments for the Transitional category ended in April 2025, while the Vulnerable category was discontinued in June 2026 after earlier extensions granted due to disaster conditions.

The newly approved lists will be displayed across Grama Niladhari and Divisional Secretariat offices, opening a strict 10-day window for the public to file appeals or objections before divisional committees.

“Any objections or appeals must strictly be lodged within the designated time frame. We will not be able to extend this period, as we are strictly required to begin payments under the new list within November,” WBB Chairman Nimal Kotawalagedara said.

Disbursements under the new roster are scheduled to begin on November 27, with the board preparing to release a second list in the near future.  (Colombo/Oct28/2026)