Hospital, Shrama Wasana lottery relaunch

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The Hospital Lottery and Shrama Wasana Lottery will be re-launched by the National Lotteries Board (NLB) this week with a new prize structure benefiting the public. Both lotteries will be introduced to the market from today.

The lotteries will be launched through a special sales promotion event at the Free Trade Zone. The draws of Hospital Lotto and Shrama Wasana lotteries will be held on December 11 telecast on Rupavahini at 9.05 p.m. and 9.45 p.m.

The Hospital Lotto Lottery was launched a few years ago on behalf of the Health Ministry while Shrama Wasana Lottery was started to collect funds for 6,500,000 workers.

"The new prize structure of these lotteries will create more winners and we believe that this would attract more customers," NLB Chairman Wasantha Parakrama Senanayake told a press briefing yesterday.

Apart from the new prize structure, the Hospital Lottery provides an insurance policies to buyers. Those who purchase this ticket has to write the ID number on the bottom of the ticket and hand it over to the agent.

The buyer will be insured under a private insurance policy worth Rs. 100,000 for one week after the draw.

Buyers are eligible to receive a maximum two insurance policies by handing over two lottery tickets.

Shrama Wasana, an instant lottery, has also been changed into a weekly draw lottery and the draw will be conducted on Sundays.

"Buying a Shrama Wasana lottery benefits customers and helps collect funds to provide welfare and care to workers," added Senanayake.

Addressing the press, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the Hospital Lottery has contributed to uplift of the healthcare facilities.

"While awarding prizes for buyers, this lottery has also helped improve health facilities. When someone buys a Hospital Lottery, he contributes to the health sector."

De Silva pledged to utilise the funds in a more productive and transparent manner to improve health facilities.

"We are planning to use these funds specially to upgrade health facilities in the backward areas," he said.

Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne said the Shrama Wasana lottery makes a worthy contribution to workers.

"Apart from awarding prizes to winners, the profits generated by this lottery will be spent to provide benefits to workers," Seneviratne said.