COVID-19: Lanka govt urges employees to donate one month salary to help tide over economic crisis

The Sri Lankan government has urged its employees to contribute their May month's salary, in part or full, to lend a helping hand in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter dated May 5 and addressed to all state sector employees, P B Jayasundera, the Secretary to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said avenues of state revenue have been blocked due to the standstill in the international trade, export and tourism following the coroanvirus pandemic.

"Although this may be a temporary pressure on the economy, the government is duty bound to service its debts. Even if we manage local debt, we have to somehow pay foreign debt by using the limited state revenue available," the letter stated, urging the employees to contribute their May month's salary, in full or part, to help the government tide over the economic crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic