Cabinet mulls donation of one month’s pay to President’s COVID-19 Fund

• Proposal by Minister Amaraweera likely to be discussed next week

The Cabinet will discuss whether to donate a month’s pay to the President’s COVID–19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund next week, a top official said yesterday. The move comes following a proposal

Power, Energy and Passenger Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera

made to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa by Power, Energy and Passenger Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday. “Given the current situation in the country, I told the Prime Minister that I’m willing to donate a month’s pay to the fund and suggested we get the entire Cabinet to do the same,” Amaraweera told Daily FT.

Amaraweera had made the proposal when he met the Prime Minister to hand over a donation worth Rs. 14.2 million from the employees of CEYPETCO and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Ltd. According to Amaraweera, Prime Minister Rajapaksa had responded positively to the request, suggesting that the entire Cabinet should consider it. “The matter will likely be discussed at the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday,” Amaraweera added.