Aranyani declines funds from Malsha’s Ice bucket challenge

23 August 2014 12:26 am

Aranyani, a local animal welfare trust, to which the funds raised by UPFA western provincial councillor Malsha Kumaratunga’s Ice Bucket challenge were to be donated, has declined the donation.

In a statement on their decision to refrain from accepting the donation, the Aranyani Executive Committee has said the funds were declined on ethical grounds. The organisation pointed out that the Ice Bucket Challenge was initiated to raise awareness and funds for the ALS Association (a US-based charity committed to fighting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), it believed it was unethical to detract from the actual cause the challenge was conceptualized for, despite the absence of an ALS Foundation in Sri Lanka.

“Aranyani does not feel comfortable accepting a donation from a fundraising activity that is specifically meant to raise awareness for another very worthy cause even though we are in need and do accept donations, fosters and assistance,” the organisation said adding that they were extremely appreciative of the gesture. Meanwhile, when contacted Ms. Kumaratunga, she acknowledged that she had been notified by Aranyani about its decision to decline the funds raised by her through the Ice Bucket Challenge.

“I will be donating the funds to another local charity but I am still undecided – I am thinking of either contributing it to drought victims or another animal welfare organisation because I am keen to donate the funds to a local organisation,” she added.

Malsha Kumaratunga had uploaded a video to her Facebook fan page on partaking in the Ice Bucket Challenge and nominated President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Mervyn Silva and Western provincial councillor Hirunika Premachandra to take up the challenge in keeping with the terms of the challenge.(Lakna Paranamanna)