China provides aid, donations for Sri Lanka flood victims

ASIA PACIFIC DAILY

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By APD Writer Jamila Husain

COLOMBO, May 30 (APD) - The Red Cross Society of China, on Tuesday, donated US 100,000 dollars to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) supporting Sri Lankas relief and rebuilding efforts on the present disaster of flooding and landslides.

A statement by the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said that Chinese Ambassador Yi Xianliang, on behalf of the Red Cross Society of China, handed over the donation to Nimal Kumar, National Secretary of SLRCS.

Ambassador Yi extended the deepest sympathy and condolences to the Sri Lankan people especially the families affected by the disaster.

He hoped the donation could assist the current relief operation of SLRCS and provide help to the people in the disaster-affected areas.

Kumar introduced the disaster situation and expressed appreciation and gratitude to the generous donation from the Red Cross Society of China.

He said that the Chinese Government and people always helped Sri Lanka when Sri Lanka faced natural disasters.

He added the Sri Lankan people would never forget the sincere friendship and generosity of the Chinese Government and its people.

On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang sent condolence messages to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe on the tragic loss of life and property following the heavy rains that led to severe floods and landslides.

On behalf of the government and people of the Peoples Republic of China, the Chinese leaders extended sympathy and condolences to the Leaders, Government and people of Sri Lanka, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

The Chinese Government will give full support to the disaster relief operations of the Sri Lankan Government. We believed that under the leadership of the Sri Lankan Government, Sri Lankan people will surely conquer the disaster and rebuild the homes at the earliest date possible, the Embassy said.

The Chinese government announced to donate emergency humanitarian disaster relief goods worth an estimated 2.2 million US dollars to Sri Lankan people who were affected by floods and landslides.

The relief goods, which will be sent to Colombo by a Chartered flight soon, include tent, blanket, sheet, rain boot and life jacket urgently needed by the Sri Lankan side.

Days of severe rains caused major floods and landslides in many parts of the country since Friday killing 183 people and injuring over 100 to date.

112 people are missing, the Disaster Management Center said while over 545,000 have been affected.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing in many districts as the water levels are receding and hundreds of teams are on ground distributing aid, food and dry rations to those affected.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)