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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama, handed over
the relief items to the earthquake victims of Sichuan Province
of China to the Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka, Mr Ye Dabo, at
the Colombo International Airport on May 24th to be dispatched
by a Sri Lankan Airlines Special Flight leaving to China. The
relief items which amounted approximately SLRs 120 million,
included of medical equipment and medicines worth in excess of
SLRs 60 million. Also the relief items included over 1,250
tents, which could accommodate over 10,000 earthquake victims to
an extended length of time. The relief consignment further
consisted of garments and tea among others.
The Sri Lankan Airlines Special Flight has already landed in
Chengdu at 9.30 a.m. in Sri Lanka time, on 25th May), which is
the capital city of Sichuan Province in China and has formally
handed over the relief items to the authorities in China. The
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China too was present at the handing
over event of the relief material to the authorities in China
along with the Sri Lankan delegation which consisted of the
Additional Secretary to H.E the President and Senior Officials
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Board of Investment and Sri
Lanka Ports Authority as well as medical doctors from the
Ministry of Health among others.
Foreign Minister Bogollagama stated at the handing over ceremony
at the Colombo International Airport that more humanitarian
assistance to the victims of the earthquake in China is expected
from the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. He, further,
added that within a space of 48 hours, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs could organize and co-ordinate with the relevant
institutions and corporates as well as Sri Lankan Airlines to
dispatch these most urgent relief material to the victims of the
earthquake in China. He also added that the response for
assistance to the earthquake victims in China, from both the
corporate sector and the public sector in Sri Lanka, was
receptive and heartening. Minister Bogollagama also impressed
the close relations the two countries have maintained for
several centuries and this modest gesture of goodwill would be a
manifestation of the affable and congenial relations at this
time.
The Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, Mr Ye Dabo, stated at the
handing over ceremony at the Colombo International Airport that
these relief goods extended by the Government and the people of
Sri Lanka would reflect the profound friendship and sentiments
of the Sri Lankan people to the Chinese people. The Ambassador
added that the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Senior
Government Officials, Senior Political Leaders, Buddhist
Societies and clergy and people from all walks of life have
expressed their deep condolences over the victims of the
earthquake of 12th of May 2008 in Sichuan Province. The
Ambassador also stated, in his remarks, referring to Sri Lanka
that "A friend in need is a friend indeed". Ambassador Dabo
extended his gratitude, on behalf of the Government and the
people of China, to Minister Bogollagama for expeditiously
organizing the dispatching of these vital relief material to
China in such short spell of time and thanked the Foreign
Minister for all the assistance extended in this regard. He
concluded his remarks by expressing the deep appreciation of the
Government and the People of China and added that "the Chinese
people and the Sri Lankan people will stand by each other and
support each other in all circumstances, because we have been
true friends and good neighbours for so many centuries".
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Palitha T B
Kohona and Senior Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Board of Investment, Embassy of China in Colombo and other
institutions were present along with the electronic and print
media. |