State banks facilitate ‘Aswasuma’ payments despite Poya holiday

People were seen going to state banks yesterday to obtain their ‘Aswasuma’ welfare benefits. Despite August 30 being a Poya holiday, all state banks remained open to facilitate these payments. 
Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said on August 29 that the government has initiated phased payments to 1.5 million Aswasuma beneficiaries. He also said that the programme aims to support two million beneficiaries in need of assistance. 
In the first stage alone, a total of Rs.4.395 billion has been deposited into the bank accounts of 689,803 beneficiaries.
PIC BY PRADEEP PATHRANA