Chennai, April 29 (BPNS)

AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam(OPS)  has offered Rs 50 lakh as an aid to Sri Lanka which is facing heavy economic crisis and the Chief Minister Stalin thanked the gesture of OPS.

CPI legislator, K. Marimuthu, BJP floor leader Nainar Nagenthran and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader, J. Mohammed Shanavas offered their one month salary to Sri Lanka as their contribution.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had moved a resolution in the state legislative assembly on Friday to send aid to Sri Lanka. During the discussion on this resolution, the former Chief Minister and AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam stood up and said that his family would like to contribute Rs 50 lakh for helping people suffering in Sri Lanka.

Stalin during his speech said that the proposal of the Tamil Nadu government to send aid to Sri Lanka was only the initial support and that the government was willing to provide more help to the island nation if necessary.

While lauding the gesture of O. Panneerselvam, Stalin said, “I do thank him for his gesture. He has announced this so that others would also contribute.”

The Chief Minister also said that the Tamil Nadu government was prepared to coordinate if political parties, NGOs, individuals come forward to extend support to Sri Lanka.

BJP floor leader Nainar Nagenthran who has announced his one-month salary as a contribution to Sri Lanka objected to certain remarks by some of the legislators ‘condemning’ the Union government for not having accorded permission to the Tamil Nadu government to send assistance and support to Sri Lanka.