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Friday, January 22, 2010 - 10.00 GMT |
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SL gives
further relief to Haiti |
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Sri
Lanka
committed
today
(22Jan)
to
donating
1000 kgs
of tea
for the
relief
of the
victims
of the
earthquake
in Haiti
in
addition
to the
financial
pledge
of
US$25,000/-.
Sri
Lanka
made
this
commitment
on the
instructions
of
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa,
after
the news
of the
earthquake
which
devastated
Haiti on
12
January,
became
known.
Sri
Lanka
has been
contributing
for
sometime
to the
peace
and
stability
of Haiti
by
deploying
at the
request
of the
UN
Stabilization
Mission
in Haiti
(MINUSTAH),
a
contingent
of
almost
1000
personnel
drawn
from the
Army,
Navy,
Air
Force
and the
Police
Service.
Following
is the
full
text of
the
media
release:
On the
instructions
of
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa,
Sri
Lanka
committed
today to
donating
1000kgs
of tea
for the
relief
of the
victims
of the
earthquake
in
Haiti.
This
donation
is in
addition
to the
financial
pledge
of
US$25,000/-
made by
the
Government
of Sri
Lanka to
its
counterpart
in Haiti
soon
after
the news
of the
earthquake
which
devastated
that
country
on 12th
January
2010,
became
known.
It may
be
recalled
that
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
in his
message
of 15th
January
to the
President
of the
Republic
of
Haiti,
René
Garcia
Préval,
had
expressed
his deep
sadness
upon
learning
of the
devastation.
President
Rajapaksa
went on
to say
"as a
nation
that was
touched
by a
tragedy
of
similar
magnitude
five
years
ago, Sri
Lanka
can
understand
and feel
the pain
of your
sorrow".
He also
mentioned
“….I
have
been
informed
that the
UN
peacekeeping
battalion
from Sri
Lanka is
fully
involved
in the
rescue
efforts.
Sri
Lanka
associates
itself
with the
international
community’s
efforts
to
support
the
people
of Haiti
at this
hour of
devastation”.
Sri
Lanka
has
indeed
been for
sometime
now
contributing
to the
peace
and
stability
of Haiti
by
deploying
at the
request
of the
UN
Stabilization
Mission
in Haiti
(MINUSTAH),
a
contingent
of
almost
1000
personnel
drawn
from the
Army,
Navy,
Air
Force
and the
Police
Service.
The UN
Headquarters
in New
York
have
briefed
the
authorities
in
Colombo
that the
efforts
by the
Sri
Lanka
Armed
Forces
and
Police
personnel
include
the
clearing
of
debris,
the
carrying
out of
rescue
operations
and the
provision
of
medical
assistance
to the
earthquake
victims.
The
pledges
of
assistance
and the
efforts
of Sri
Lanka’s
contingent
are a
strong
manifestation
of the
understanding
and
empathy
conveyed
by
President
Rajapaksa’s
message
to the
people
of
Haiti,
at this
time of
sorrow
and
need.
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