SLFP MPs to donate Aug. salaries for COVID-19 patients’ wellbeing 

• 14 MPs and 1,300 Local Government representatives expected to collect around Rs. 50 m
• Sirisena to make a special statement on SLFP 70th Anniversary 
• Blood donation campaign on 2 September  

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarians have decided to donate their August salaries to the well-being of the COVID-19 patients.

This decision — first of its kind by a political party — was made at the party’s Central Committee meeting headed by SLFP Chairman and former President Maithripala Sirisena last Friday via Zoom.

During the meeting, all 14 MPs agreed to credit their August remunerations to the SLFP-created COVID-19 fund, whilst calling on the 1,300 Local Government representatives across the country to also follow suit. 

Together, around Rs. 50 million is expected to be collected through salary donations. The party-created funds will be used for the welfare of COVID-19 patients and to provide essential medicines, including oxygen, to the hospitals.

SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena will also make a special statement on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary at its headquarters in Colombo.

In addition, it was decided to donate 10,000 pints of blood to mark the anniversary of the SLFP, which is commemorated on 2 September. The event will be held with the participation of all SLFP district and electoral organisers.

The SLFP Media Unit, in a statement, said that National Blood Centre Director Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe has agreed to provide the fullest cooperation for this purpose.