Mannar women protest exclusion from Aswesuma welfare program

Last Wednesday, a collective of women from low-income families in Mannar gathered to protest against their exclusion from the Sri Lankan government's Aswesuma welfare program.

They maintain that they were systematically excluded from the list of beneficiaries whilst those wealthy, with multiple assets and government, connects were privileged. 

The protesters reiterated the high cost of living, which has affected low-income families the most. They also said that women who have to rely on microfinance loans to meet their daily needs have been deeply affected. They fear that not being included in the Samurdhi program will push them further below the poverty line.

The Mannar Divisional Secretary spoke to the protesters and the media following the protest. He said that the Divisional Secretariat will review the list of beneficiaries and also accept the complaints of people who are qualified to be part of the Samurdhi fund but were not included.

Following the inaction of the Provincial Secretariat, the protests continued on Thursday in front of the Mannar Provincial Secretariat. The women also continued their protest in front of the Divisional Secretariat and at the Mannar Main Road to raise awareness of the issue. They announced that they are hoping to organise a regional protest that includes everyone eligible in the Mannar district who has not been included in the beneficiary list.