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Sri Lanka makes cash donation to flood relief fund in India

The Government of Sri Lanka has made a donation of Indian Rs. 2,225,560 (US dollars 50,000) to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund set up on behalf of the flood victims in the Indian State of Bihar. The cheque for this amount was handed over by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, Romesh Jayasinghe, to the Resident Commissioner of Bihar in New Delhi, Shri C.K. Mishra on 12th September 2008.

Heavy monsoon rains caused a river flowing through Bihar to change its course and flood a part of the State that is normally not prone to inundation. It is estimated that well over 2 million people have either been displaced, or suffered some grave damage to their livelihoods.

Speaking on the occasion of handing over the cheque, High Commissioner Jayasinghe stated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had written to Indian Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh in the previous week, expressing the deep sorrow of the Government and people of Sri Lanka on the loss of lives and suffering caused by the severe floods. The President in his letter had also recalled that Bihar is familiar to the people of Sri Lanka, since every year tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims visit the State to pay homage to the sacred land, where the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

The High Commissioner further observed that Sri Lanka herself has been a victim of a natural disaster, namely the Asian tsunami in December 2004. The people of Sri Lanka recall with deep appreciation the immediate and generous assistance offered by India at that time. He expressed the hope that the dedicated efforts of the Union authorities and of the State Government, would result in an early return to normalcy in Bihar.

The Resident Commissioner Shri C.K. Mishra in response conveyed the sincere appreciation of the Bihar State authorities, for the gesture of support and solidarity by the Government and people of Sri Lanka.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
September 2008.