SRI LANKA TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS OF CHINA

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama, convened a high-level meeting on 21^st May 2008 consisting of senior officials and CEOs of leading garment and tea corporates, Board of Investment, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Tea Board and the SriLankan  Airlines as well as Secretary and Medical Officers of the Ministry of Health among others, in order to explore and solicit immediate assistance to the recent earthquake victims in the Province of Sichuan in China. Foreign Minister added that H.E. the President has requested the extension of assistance and cooperation to the victims of the earthquake in China, primarily due to close and most congenial relations the two countries have maintained over the past millennia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama, convened a high-level meeting on 21^st May 2008 consisting of senior officials and CEOs of leading garment and tea corporates, Board of Investment, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Tea Board and the SriLankan  Airlines as well as Secretary and Medical Officers of the Ministry of Health among others, in order to explore and solicit immediate assistance to the recent earthquake victims in the Province of Sichuan in China. Foreign Minister added that H.E. the President has requested the extension of assistance and cooperation to the victims of the earthquake in China, primarily due to close and most congenial relations the two countries have maintained over the past millennia.

For record, it is estimated that over 55,000 people have been confirmed dead and a large number of people have been missing or injured due to one of the worst earthquakes in the history of China, with a magnitude of 7.8.

Minister Bogollagama also convened a meeting yesterday (22^nd May) consisting of CEOs and Directors of Banks, both foreign and local as well as corporate and public, to expound the scale of the disaster and more importantly for the banks and financial institutions to participate in the endeavors of the Government of Sri Lanka to extend assistance at this grave hour of need. In this regard, the Governor of the Central Bank, on request of the Foreign Minister, has already opened an account at the Central Bank for the bankers to commit their voluntary contributions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already scheduled a SriLankan Airlines Special Flight to dispatch medical equipment worth in excess of SLR 60 million and other material worth approximately SLR 50 million such as 1,250 tents, garments and tea amounting to a total of over

SLR 110 million to the homeless victims of the earthquake among others. The flight is scheduled to leave early on Sunday morning (25^th May) to Chengdu in China. This humanitarian assistance to the victims of the earthquake in China would be the preliminary as well as the most urgent assistance since more assistance is anticipated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close and efficacious coordination with relevant corporates, government institutions and the SriLankan Airlines, managed to muster such generous assistance and organize a Special Flight to Chengdu in China in less than 48 hours.

The delegation would consist of Mr. H.M.T.D. Herath, Additional Secretary to H.E. the President, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senior Officials of the Board of Investment, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Ministry of Health among others.   

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

23^rd May 2008