The government implements a new welfare programme with defined costs, timelines and number of recipients under the provisions of Welfare Benefits Board Act.

“This would be the largest expenditure on social welfare in post-independence Sri Lanka,” Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

Unlike current welfare programmes, the proposed welfare programme is equipped with a mechanism to better target the most vulnerable groups in the society.

Around 3.1 million low-income families are expected to receive welfare benefits under this programme.

Multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have come on board to provide funding for this programme.

The government last year started establishing a new information system of welfare applicants in order to identify those who truly deserve benefits