• The UK recognizes the economic challenges that Sri Lanka is facing
• We continue to monitor the economic situation in Sri Lanka closely

By Sunil Jayasiri  

Britain on Tuesday said that the existing social protection systems, including the Samurdhi programme, provide essential support to the most vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka and will be crucial at this difficult time.   

In response to a question by Conservative MP regarding the recent assessment made by the State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the effectiveness of the Samurdhi programme in Sri Lanka, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Vicky Ford said that “The Sri Lankan authorities have taken a number of measures to help support the public, including an economic relief package of Rs. 200bn ($1bn) announced in January 2022.”  

“The UK recognises the economic challenges that Sri Lanka is facing. We continue to monitor the economic situation in Sri Lanka closely, including the impact economic issues are having on food security and livelihoods,” she said in a written answer to UK Parliament  She also stated that  

“The package includes a Rs. 5000 ($25) monthly allowance for public sector employees, pensioners and disabled soldiers. Under the scheme, Rs. 1000 ($5) has been allocated to the beneficiaries of the government’s largest welfare programme ‘Samurdhi’, and a number of taxes and levies have been removed from essential foods and medicines. The Government of Sri Lanka agreed on May 2 to provide a special three-month cash allowance from May to July worth Rs. 13.36 billion to 3.34 million families affected by the current economic crisis, with funding from the World Bank of which the UK is a major donor.