Samurdhi Housing Lottery Fund

Vision :-

"A permanent home for every Samurdhi beneficiary family"

Mission :- 

Developing spiritual values through economic, social,educational and cultural empowerment of Samurdhi beneficiary families and low-income families who do not have housing ownership.

Targets :-

1.  Realizing the housing dream of Samurdhi beneficiaries
2. Providing encouragement to the lives of low-income earners
3. Empowering these families economically

Goals :-

1. Providing a permanent solution to the temporary housing problem of Samurdhi beneficiary families to increase their welfare.
2. To strengthen Samurdhi beneficiary families economically, socially, educationally and culturally and to develop their spiritual qualities by solving their permanent housing problem.
3. Implementation of a special housing programme for helpless, homeless beneficiaries.

Samurdhi Special Housing Programme

The Samurdhi Housing Development Lottery Trust Fund Board has the authority to use any remaining balance in the fund in a manner that will achieve the objectives of this fund.

Accordingly, the following programmes have been implemented in the year 2024.

1. A sum of Rs. 250,000/- each house programme - 654 houses, cost at  Rs. 163.5 million
2. A sum of Rs. 750,000/- each house programme - 644 houses, cost at  Rs. 487.5 million
3. Housing programme  for  the requests through Audiovisual media and appeals programme - 57 houses, cost at  Rs. 23.35 million.

A number of 1355 houses were constructed in the year 2024, and the cost for that was        Rs. 674.35 million.

The Samurdhi Social Security Fund

Introduction

The Samurdhi Social Security Fund has been established and maintained under the Commissioner General Department of Samurdhi by Trust Deed No. 8 with effect from 01.01.1997. The Social Security Fund has been established on a non-profit basis with a view of welfare in mind. The Samurdhi Social Security Fund has been built up from bank investments and income generated from the Nilaweli Samurdhi Training Center, which is administered by the Social Security Fund.  

In the establishment of the Divineguma Development Department in accordance with the Divineguma Development Act No. 01 of 2013, it has been attached to this to carry out the affairs of the Department of Samurdhi Commissioner General in the same manner. Accordingly, the Divineguma Social Security Fund was operated under the Divineguma Development Department and this Fund is operating under the name of Samurdhi Social Security Fund with the revision of the name of the Department in the year 2017 as the Samurdhi Development Department. The Social Security Trustee Board consisting of 11 members takes decisions related to the management, administration and control of the Fund.

Objectives -;

• To implement a social security system to minimize the financial difficulties faced by individuals and groups who have benefited from the Samurdhi but are not receiving Aswesuma  and who are underprivileged in society, and to secure their social and living conditions, both unexpected and expected.

• To improve the nutritional status of the Samurdhi beneficiaries who were not received Aswesuma and to take actions to improve their social and economic status by creating a healthy environment.

• Boost the Fund by investing the excess money in state banks at higher interest rates and increasing the income of the Nilaweli Training Centre.

The socio-economic outcomes expected from this Fund

• To protect beneficiaries' families through financial and other assistance in the event of a decline in their living standards.
• To encourage secondary education for children who have passed the G.C.E. (O/L) and were eligible to study for the G.C.E. (A/L ) and were  Samurdhi beneficiaries but not receive Aswesuma.

• Maintaining the financial position of the Fund at an optimal level by investing at high interest rates.

Introduction of Activities

With the implementation of the “Aswesuma” programme from July 2023, the insurance facilities provided to about 1,640,000 families who were under the Samurdhi Subsidy Programme will be abolished and the monthly contributions made to the Social Security Fund by Samurdhi beneficiaries have also been lost. Therefore, financial and material assistance will be provided to socially disadvantaged individuals, groups, and institutions with the approval of the Samurdhi Social Security Trustee Board.

The Sipdora Scholarship Programme provides scholarships of Rs. 1,500/= per month for a period of two years of study to all G.C.E. (Advanced Level) students from subsidized families spread across the island.

Similarly, the Nilaveli Samurdhi Training Center, which is a fixed asset belonging to the Fund, provides residential facilities, training, lectures and workshops to internal and other external institutions.

• The Nilaveli Training Center is located on the Pulmudai Road in Trincomalee.

• It is a residential center with 5 rooms and modern facilities for foreign tourists because it is located near the Nilaveli Beach where there is a local and foreign tourist attraction.

• Steps have been taken to further increase the expected income in the future because of the installation of air conditioning in meeting halls and essential rooms.

• Reservations can be made online by expanding technological connections.

Methodology in Use

Sipdora Scholarships are provided to students who have passed the G.C.E. (O/L ) and are pursuing Advanced Level studies and are not eligible for the Aswesuma but entitled for  Samurdhi benefit. An amount of Rs. 668,514,000 has been paid in 2024 for 445,672 installments for 40,341 students for the academic years 2022 - 2024 and 2023 -2025.

Payment Process

Scholarships of Rs. 1,500/- per month for a period of two years of study are provided to all G.C.E Advanced Level students from subsidized families spread across the island.

Division ------->   Zonal Office (Samurdhi Community Based Bank) ------->  Divisional Secretariat   (Samurdhi Headquarters) --------->   District Secretariat -------->    Samurdhi Social Security Fund at the Head Office

Accordingly, the relevant funds will be released, at the beginning of the year to all Divisional Secretariats and District Secretariats by the Samurdhi Social Security Division of the Head Office. That money should be used to pay for scholarships.

The Development Officer in charge of the Division should submit the relevant documents along with the duly completed Sipdora Scholarship applications to the Zonal Manager or Community Based Bank Manager. The applications with his recommendation should be submitted to the Headquarters Manager of the Divisional Secretariat and the document prepared by the subject officer of the Divisional Secretariat is submitted to the Divisional Secretary for approval. Thereafter, after the expenses are certified by the Accountant of the Divisional Secretariat, payments are made to the relevant scholarship recipients through Samurdhi Community Based Banks.

In addition to these main functions, financial and material assistance is provided to the disadvantaged, low-income earners, and socially disadvantaged individuals, groups, and institutions for various needs arising from time to time, with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Social development projects such as livelihood and marketing development, sanitary toilet construction, targeted at other low-income earners, approved by the Samurdhi Social Security Trust Board, are also implemented from time to time.

International Day Programs of Department of Samurdhi Development

• Smoking and Drug Prevention Flag Program – 31st May (World No Tobacco Day)

The drugs, which are very dangerous and can be easily abused by the entire community, have become well- known in the present era and, hospitals and prisons are full of drug users. Children, young people and adults are constantly suffering from various troubles and illnesses due to the use of these drugs, and family units are exposed to various dangerous situations, children lose their parents, families are divided, and various troubles such as women, child abuse, suicide, social diseases, etc. have started to deteriorate in the villages and cities of the entire country, the economy, society, culture, spirituality, and even their own religions. Therefore, the main role of the Social Development Division is to provide guidance through a scientific method to eliminate this great disaster. For this, Social Development Officers, under the guidance of the Social Development Division, create and present programmes that cover the entire population. Social Development Assistants will lead this. Further, in conjunction with the international days, a Smoking and Drug Prevention flag programme is also held on 31st May, and with the funds received, various empowerment initiatives are carried out in collaboration with community-based organizations, through guidance and awareness on drug prevention, for the benefit of the community.

• International Women's Day Program  - 08th  March

Various programmes are being conducted to empower women under the International Women's Day programme on 08th March. Programmes such as empowering them socially, culturally, spiritually and economically, educating women on attitude development, law, spiritual virtues, microfinance, debt relief, etc., and providing family counseling services are being implemented.

• International Literacy Day Program - 08th  September

The necessary programme to identify school age children who are  out-of-school and provide them with education through non-formal education methods has been launched. Also, even adults with low literacy levels are provided with the necessary support to increase their literacy through these programmes. Similarly, the fulfillment of school needs of those children, such as school supplies and exercise books. It should be noted that donors are also participating in this without hesitation. The Social Development Division has implemented programmes such as providing every child with the opportunity to receive education by connecting with the informal education units that have been started for this purpose at the Zonal Education Offices and providing these educational opportunities.

• Poverty Alleviation Day Program  - 17th  October

Especially, conducting free education programmes for grade 5 Scholarship student who were unable to attend the private tuition classes, and conduct mental health development programmes for those students. In here school teachers as well as experienced private tuition inspectors voluntarily contribute to this education programme.  

• World Children's Day Programme  - 01st  October

These programmes are being launched for this purpose, for the benefit of all children, who are like flowers, and to educate the adult community about their safety and health, as well as for children. Nutrition programmes for pre-school children, art competitions, cultural competitions and awareness raising, as well as various programmes specifically designed for school children to hone their skills are created and presented. There, the aim of this programme is to highlight the opportunities available to individuals to live as productive individuals for the country by developing attitudes, increasing knowledge, and acquiring skills to move forward in a safe, secure, and encouraging future while maintaining their safety and health.

•  Senior Citizens Day Programme - 01st  October

The purpose of this programme  is to introduce opportunities for the elderly community living alone to live a happy lifestyle, to conduct health programmes and entertainment programmes for them, to encourage them as role models for the society, to keep them happy, to organize community awareness programmes to create a society full of positive happiness, and to launch attitude-building programmes that help build an environment suitable for living happily by involving the elders of the family in their family activities.