Samurdhi lottery winners to receive cheques from President today

Rohan Mathes

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will hand over the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority (2005) Housing Development Lottery cheques to 556 beneficiaries at Temple Trees today. The eighth round of the 2005 July-December period Samurdhi Housing Lottery draw to select 600 winners, will also be held today.

The first flag to mark the Anti-smoking and Anti-Alcohol day which falls on May 30, is to be pinned on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at this ceremony.

President Rajapaksa will also hand over ownership of 44 houses constructed under the Samurdhi Authority's "Diriya Piyasa" programme to the recipients, and award "Sipdora" scholarships to 25 students.

The Nation Building and Estate Infrastructural Development Ministers and the Samurdhi beneficiaries will attend the function.

With the aim of creating a prosperous Sri Lanka, the government has strengthened the Samurdhi project under the 'Mahinda Chintana' and increased the Samurdhi subsidy by 50 per cent, while activating several projects to increase the monthly salary of Samurdhi recipients to rupees 5000. The government has also taken steps to increase the number of Samurdhi subsidy recipients who are not receiving it yet, although eligible to receive it.

The Government has also taken steps to provide mal-nourished expectant mothers a wholesome 'Nutritious Food Pack' (Poshana Malla), and a glass of milk to under-nourished children of two to five years.

The compensation for a death of a Samurdhi beneficiary had been enhanced from rupees 5000 to 10,000, and the allowance of rupees 2500 given for a mother's confinement had been increased to rupees 5000 under the Samurdhi Social Security programme, after President Rajapaksa assumed office as President.

President Rajapaksa had also appointed a Commission to probe into the problems encountered by the Samurdhi Managers and officials pertaining to their employment, and investigations are already under way in this regard.