Abstract:
Although various development programs have been initiated for the welfare of the genaral
public of this country since the time of the British colonial period, they have shown some growth after
independence. With the attainment of universal suffrage in Sri Lanka, the beginning of representative
democracy can be seen as a temptation to carry out the welfare of the people by the representatives.
Therefore, the people's leaders did not have the opportunity to neglect the interests of the common
people. Particular attention was paid to the rural population. Because it was the reason why the people
got their votes in the elections and those votes were decisive. In the past, a large number of rural
programs were implemented and some programs failed. However, the Samurdhi development program
introduced by the government that came to power in 1994 has had some success but has failed to
eradicate its intended poverty. This research could fine that the Samurdhi program has failed to achieve
the real progress of due to the irregularities in the selection of Samurdhi recipients in the rural
community, political interference, bureaucracy, negative attitudes of the Samurdhi beneficiaries,
improper monitoring of the beneficiaries and lack of targeted programs. The research was conducted in
four Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat Division in the Galle District of
the Southern Province of Sri Lanka for this purpose and about 100 Samurdhi recipient families were
used for this purpose.
