Government seeks defence fund contributions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 September 1998, 18:11 GMT]
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Chandranande De Silva, has sent a circular to all ministerial secretaries, heads of government departments and corporations, asking them to contribute a week's salary to the Government's National Defence fund.

The circular said that the war was in the decisive stage and that the remaining land held by the LTTE would be captured soon by the troops.

The circular also assured that the government would not introduce compulsory military service, despite the increasing demand for manpower in the armed forces.

The Government made an earlier, similar appeal to the bank- workers union, the appeal was rejected.

Meanwhile, defence sources say that a fund that was initiated in 1985 has now amassed some Rs. 720 million (approximately 12 million US $), money that will now be used to provide welfare for soldiers.