Colombo-Jaffna rail track:

Rs. 11.4 m donated within 10 minutes

President donates his April salary:

Irangika Range

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that Rs.11.4 million has been donated within 10 minutes for the Colombo-Jaffna railway track extension project which was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday, the Minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa donated his April salary to the project and called upon all patriotic citizens to contribute to it. Soon after his announcement a number of donations were made to the project.

Meanwhile, employees and officials attached to the Presidential Secretariat too also donated their one day’s salary to the project.

The Minister said it is significant that the donations amounting to Rs. 11.4 million collected to the project within 10 minutes.

He requested all patriotic citizens to join in building the rail track.

Meanwhile, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa said the NFF Parliamentarians have decided to donate their May salary to the project.

“We will also provide our manpower to rebuild one station and extension of the rail track for a certain distance,“ he said.