'India had been fully aware of the actual ground situation at the height of the conflict', said Health Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday appreciating India’s support for eradicating terrorism and strengthening Sri Lanka’s capacity to meet the emergency medical situation in the North.

Speaking at a ceremony at Hotel Taj to felicitate Indian medical personnel, who had been involved in the humanitarian mission in the North, the minister said that their presence in the war zone-first at Pulmoddai and then at Menik farm had sent a clear signal to the international community.

He said that Indians saw what Sri Lanka did and the difficult conditions under which the government of Sri Lanka had to handle the situation. With the help of India and other external sources, including INGOs, the government had been able to avert a catastrophe, Health Minister said.

The Indian medical team arrived in Sri Lanka on March 9, 2009. During their deployment at Pulmoddai, they treated nearly 7,000 persons. At Menik farm, over 40,000 men, women and children received Indian medical assistance till August 31. The Indians set up base at Menik farm in May.

According to minister de Silva, Indians had operated under extremely difficult conditions, and that he had dismissed criticism of the deployment of Indian personnel without any formalities as their presence was urgently needed to extend facilities available for the displaced.

India this week terminated its medical mission and handed over 25 million Sri Lankan rupees worth medicine and medical supplies to Sri Lanka. This was in addition to SLR 100 million worth medicine and medical supplies used by the Indians during their deployment here.

Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad referring to the chaos caused by over 250,000 people seeking refuge in and around Vavuniya in March-May period, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad said that any government would have found it a difficult situation. He said that India had shifted its medical mission to Menik farm from Pulmoddai in support of Sri Lanka’s efforts. He emphasized that India had offered medical assistance not due to any shortcoming on Sri Lanka’s part but as a true friend.