Flood-hit Sri Lanka receives help from several countries

May 24, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has received a helping hand from several friendly countries to support the disaster affected people in the country. The Foreign Ministry has established a task force to coordinate emergency relief assistance from Diplomatic Missions in Colombo and Sri Lankan Missions overseas, with the relevant Ministries and Agencies in Sri Lanka. In view of the serious flooding in western Sri Lanka, the United States Government has provided 50,000 US dollars for immediate disaster assistance for non-food items such as blankets, mattresses, clothing and hygiene kits. The US Government said they will provide an‎ additional 250,000 US dollars to support flood relief efforts in Sri Lanka. The Government of Japan handed over emergency relief goods worth about 32 million rupees. These included blankets, sleeping pads, mobile water purifiers, water tanks, mobile generator units and water purification tablets, flown in urgently from the JICA warehouse in Singapore. The Australian Government will contribute 500,000 US dollars to UNICEF for humanitarian assistance, including the provision of clean water and sanitation for children in shelters. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka received the first consignment of Flood Relief Material from India which was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha. The Red Cross Society of China has donated 50,000 US dollars to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society supporting Sri Lanka's relief and rebuilding efforts on the present disaster of flooding and landslides around the island. South Korea has decided to provide assistance of 100,000 US dollars for Sri Lanka's relief and rebuilding efforts. The First Pakistani Cargo flight of relief goods from Pakistan brought full load of C-130 aircraft carrying priority relief items. The relief items contained generators, shelters, tents, medicines and other items that were handed over by the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka. In response to the call of the Sri Lankan Government for assistance from the international community, the Turkish Red Crescent Society has donated family size tents, solar powered lamps and blankets. Sri Lankan Government has also set up several Bank Accounts to which financial donations for Disaster Relief may be sent by well wishers in local and foreign currency. Details of the Accounts set up are indicated below: - Account Name: Disaster Relief Fund - DST Bank: Sampath Bank Swift Code: BSAMLKLX Beneficiary: Government of Sri Lanka Bank Code: 7278 Branch Code: 029 Branch Name: Corporate Branch / Head Office Branch Address: Sampath Centre, 110 Sir James Peiris Mawatha, Colombo 2. SRI LANKA Bank Telephone: +94 11 2358358