President Kumaratunga meets Diplomats
[December 31, 2004 - 9.00 GMT] 

President Kumaratunga today met all Colombo based Diplomats and members of the International Agencies based in the country. At the meeting held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat the President briefed the audience about the crises faced by Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Sunday’s disaster. She thanked the members of the Diplomatic Corps for their presence and their concern. The President also conveyed Sri Lanka’s sympathies to the victims in other nations which suffered similar devastation. She said several World Leaders had telephoned her and that the UN has a special team to make an assessment of the damage to infrastructure.

The President said Sunday’s tidal waves and the resulting catastrophe was a new and unexpected experience for Sri Lanka. A third of our coastline, from the North to the South and parts of the West was lashed by the killer waves leaving over 24,000 dead. We were not prepared to face such a calamity she said, in the first 48 hours coordination was poor she conceded, however it is now functioning smoothly with in organized manner.

The President told them about the special task force which operates from the Office of the President. Chaired by the Secretary to the President it comprises the senior officials from relevant Ministries. The UN Agencies now in Sri Lanka are also headquartered at the Office of the President. She said a National Reconstruction Fund has been put in place already to rebuild damaged infrastructure.

The President explained immediate and long term needs of the country and said Sri Lanka would welcome the assistance of all friendly nations.

She said she has sought the assistance the local business community as well. Outlining the priorities she said the damaged road network would be the first followed by telecom, hospitals, schools, housing etc.

All political parties in Parliament have expressed their willingness to cooperate in this national rebuilding effort with the exception of the TNA which is still to respond to the call she said.

The President made special reference to the urgent need for preparedness and to put in place a professional disaster management scheme. She told the diplomats present that she has already spoken with the French and US governments regarding an ‘early warning system’ in the South Asian region which would help minimize the human cost of in the event of future natural disasters.

The President told the diplomatic community contrary to some news reports in certain foreign media agencies and local websites food stocks, medicine and doctors have been sent to the North East. The Rehabilitation Ministry under her purview works in tandem with UN Agencies and other International Aid Agencies. She said the LTTE’s propaganda mechanism does disseminate false reports often.

The envoys representing India, Bangladesh, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, Norway, Italy, and the heads of the UNDP, World Bank, ICRC, ADB, IMF expressed their views.

Some of them expressed their gratitude to the people of Sri Lanka who had rescued many of their nationals who were holidaying here. Some of them were given refuge and even money which they had lost in the tidal wave disaster. They pledged their fullest co-operation to Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild the lives of its people and its infrastructure.

Associated with the President were, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Secretary to the President W J S Karunaratne. SG of the Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala and the Service Commanders and the Police Chief.

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Last Updated Date: December 31, 2004 - 9:00 GMT