The cabinet that met on Monday has decided to provide a major relief package to low income families who are distressed due to the current economic crisis in the country, funded by a World Bank financial assistance programme to the tune of Rs. 13,364 million for the next three months.

Trade and Samurdhi Development Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the post cabinet news briefing yesterday that the relief in cash will be provided to about 3.34 million people of low income families ranging from Samurdhi beneficiaries, elderly, kidney and disability allowance beneficiaries, those over 100 years of age and those who have been severely affected by the current economic crisis in the country.

Accordingly, 732,000 identified as Samurdhi beneficiary families who draw Rs. 4,500 right now will get Rs. 7,500 each with an additional Rs. 3,000 for the next three months. The elderly will get Rs. 5,000 as opposed to Rs. 2,000 paid now for a month and those over 100 years of age, people with permanent disability and kidney patients will be paid Rs. 7,500 instead of the current Rs. 5,000.

Contingent Emergency Response Component in projects funded by the World Bank Group will provide the necessary funding.

The proposal that costs the government Rs. 4,455 million had been presented to the cabinet by Finance and Justice Minister Ali Sabry. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)