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| Thursday, 17 April 2003 |
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Samurdhi relief for beggars The government is exploring the possibility of granting Samurdhi relief to beggars, the country's most poverty stricken social group. The Samurdhi Ministry is conducting a survey at each Divisional Secretariat level to immediately provide Samurdhi subsidies to beggars. The Ministry hopes to grant Samurdhi relief to beggars by the end of May this year, Samurdhi Minister R. A. D. Sirisena told the Daily News recently. The Department of the Commissioner of Poor Relief will register each beggar and formulate a plan to grant Samurdhi relief to them. The Ministry decided to conduct this survey to identify the exact number of beggars to prevent the disbursement of Samurdhi relief to certain groups disguised as beggars, he said. The Minister said Rs. 350, Rs. 600 and Rs. 1000 subsidies will be given monthly to beggars depending on the level of their poverty. The Government has allocated Rs.9 billion to provide Samurdhi subsidies to 1.9 million families this year. The Government spent Rs.10 billion last year to provide Samurdhi grants. Sisters die in accident Two sisters of the same family were killed when their motorcycle was knocked by a cab in Wadduwa on Tuesday. The incident took place at the turn of the Siddhalepa Hospital road at around 3.30 pm. According to police the girls both in their teens were riding on the back of the motorcycle ridden by a male relative. They were paying an Avurudhu visit to the home of another relative when they met with their untimely end. According to eye witnesses the trio were thrown off the motorcycle when the cab travelling at high speed crashed into it at the bend. The rider is in critical condition. According to police the elder sister Vajira Swarnakanthi (19) was an Advanced Level student while 17 year old U. Thamara Priyadarshani had just passed her OL exam. The driver of the cab who fled after the incident later surrendered to the Wadduwa police. Appeal to help heart patient F. Rahim of No. 523, Al Hilal South Road, Sainthamaruthu-14, Kalmunai is suffering from an acute heart ailment and needs early Aortic Valve replacement surgery to save his life, according to Dr. Y. K. M. Lahie, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon. The surgery to be performed at a private hospital is estimated to cost Rs. 367,500. Rahim's father Mohamed Nazeer says his family is unable to foot this bill due to their present economic plight and requests donors and well wishers to assist his son's cause by making whatever contributions possible. All contributions should be remitted to A. L. M. Nazeer, Account No. 207050865-3 at the People's Bank (Kalmunai branch). |
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