EC halts New Year relief pack
The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the government’s decision to provide a subsidized food package for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has been temporarily suspended.
Accordingly, the Secretary to the President and the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development have been formally instructed to distribute the seasonal food package only after the Local Government elections are held.
As per this year’s budget proposal, this food package was to be provided to eligible beneficiaries selected from 812,753 new applicants who had submitted requests under the ‘Aswesuma’ program.The package was designed to offer essential food items worth Rs.5,000 at a subsidized price of Rs.2,500.
The Cabinet recently approved the initiative, and distribution was originally scheduled to take place from April 01 to 13 via Lanka Sathosa and Coop outlets.
