President’s COVID-19 Fund passes Rs. 703 m

• Rs. 48 m in donations made yesterday from clergy, NWSDB and Huawei Technologies

Rising corporate and individual donations have resulted in the COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund‘s balance surpassing Rs. 703 million yesterday, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa established the COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund on 23 March.

The Chief Administrator of the Gangaramaya Temple Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero donated Rs. 10 million from Gangarama Vesak Fund to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, while Ven. Dr. Malwane Chandarathana Thero handed over a donation of Rs. 2.5 million collected by the Teachers’ Association of the University of Kelaniya to the President.

Donations of Rs. 2.5 million by the National Water Supply & Drainage Board Engineers’ Association, Rs. 1 million by  S.D. Amarasinghe and Rs.1.5 million by Huawei Technologies Lanka Co. Ltd. were made to the Fund yesterday as well.

All the donations will be credited to the special account opened under the number 85737373 at the Corporate Branch of the Bank of Ceylon. Local as well as foreign donors have made their contributions to the Fund. Donations to the COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund have been exempted from taxes and foreign exchange regulations. Deposits can be made through cheques or telegraphic transfers.

Further details can be obtained from K.B. Egodawele, Director General (Administration) of the Presidential Secretariat through the telephone number 011-2354479 / 011-2354354.