More benefits under Divineguma Act - Dullas

Athapattu Bandara

“Samurdhi recipients will not be deprived any benefits they enjoyed under the Samurdhi scheme with the implementation of the Divineguma Act. The benefits will be significantly increased under the Divineguma Department,” Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Allahapperuma said.

The minister was addressing the first district Technological Exhibition at St. Thomas’ College, Matara on Sunday.

He further said a major change is being introduced for Samurdhi beneficiaries through the Divineguma Act. This would bring a fruitful tomorrow for all Samurdhi recipients. Under the present Samurdhi programme, a recipient will lose all privileges once he quits the Samurdhi programme. Bur under the divineguma Department, all benefits would be ensured even at a time they want to quit the programme.

“This is the most significant feature of the Divineguma Act”, he said.

“Samurdhi officials can admit or remove the Samurdhi beneficiaries according to their franchises.

“But,this situation will be prevented under the Divineguma Act. Any one facing an injustice at the hands of officials, can seek legal redress,” he said.

“This will ensure the security of all Samurdhi recipients’ ”, the minister added.

“In the past, political leaders measured the country’s economy by gauging the urban economy.

But President Mahinda Rajapaksa changed this old fashioned notion on the economy.

He mobilized village labour to spur the country’s development.

Villages were provided with capital and villagers were equipped with technological know how”, he pointed out.