Sri Lanka, Sept. 25 -- As many as 53,604 people suffering from kidney disease are currently receiving a monthly allowance of Rs. 10,000, Minister of Social Security Upali Pannilage told Parliament today.

The Minister made the statement in response to an oral question raised by Opposition MP Rohana Bandara regarding assistance provided to people affected by kidney disease.

Pannilage rejected the MP's claim that the payment of the allowance was being restricted, stating that there were no such restrictions.

"Most of the people receiving the special allowance are also beneficiaries of the Aswesuma welfare programme," the Minister said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Daily Mirror Sri Lanka....