Security personnel won't have to donate day's salary - defence ministry

COLOMBO (News1st) : The defence ministry has dismissed social media reports that security personnel will have to donate their day's salary for May in line with a request made by the President's Secretary. "...donating day's salary is not relevant to tri-forces, police, and civil security department," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. President's Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara had recently requested public servants to donate their entire, part, or day’s salary for May to alleviate the country's financial crisis amidst the coronavirus pandemic. He had stated the government requires at least Rs 100 billion to pay salaries and allowances for state servants and that the country’s budget deficit could be reduced if the salaries were donated. However, defence secretary Kamal Gunaratne had informed the relevant security agencies that soldiers, sailors, airmen, police, and civil security will not have to pay a day's salary. "We have requested them to donate their salaries only according to their willingness to contribute to the request made by the President's Secretary," Gunaratne, a retired major general, was quoted as saying in the statement.