Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that the Samurdhi beneficiaries do not need to reap long-term benefits.
He pointed out that the objective of providing Samurdhi benefits is not to keep people deprived in the long run.
The aims of the present government are to provide these benefits in a meaningful manner and to raise their living standards,” he added.
However, speaking at a ceremony last month, President Maithripala Sirisena assured that no Samurdhi beneficiary would have their benefits cut or reduced.
The President said that though many individuals carried out several campaigns with the slogan that Samurdhi benefits were being cut, no such thing would happen.
The President made this statement while addressing recipients of land deeds under the government’s national programme to provide 100,000 people with land deeds on August 11.
