• Issues in updating 1st stage data, ongoing census process 

The Association of Divisional Secretaries (DSs) and Assistant DSs has urged the Government to rectify several shortcomings in the implementation of the Aswesuma welfare benefits program, warning that continuous technical and administrative issues are affecting both the beneficiaries and public officials engaged in the process.

In a letter addressed to President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 23 May, the Association stated that there are a series of problems linked to the updating of first-stage Aswesuma data and the ongoing census process. The Association claimed that the relevant integrated workplace management system (IWMS) continues to operate despite long-standing flaws and claimed that responsibility and accountability for the resulting issues are being unfairly shifted onto DSs and Assistant DSs.