Italy pledges 7 m Euros for tsunami 2nd phase reconstruction

The Italian Government will provide Euro 7 million for the second phase of the tsunami development projects.

This follows a meeting Lankan Ambassador in Rome Hemantha Warnakulasuriya had with Italy’s Civil Protection Department of the Presidency of Council of Ministers Director General Dr. Guido Bertolaso.

Ambassador Warnakulasuriya was accompanied to the meeting by the Head of Chancery, C. A. H. M. Wijeratne, the Minister Counselor (Comm.), W. W. Hemachandra and Patrizia Falco, assistant and interpreter.

Ambassador Warnakulasuriya and Dr. Bertolaso discussed the tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation projects undertaken by the Italian Government.

Lankan Ambassador informed Dr. Bertolaso that Italy was the first European country which came to the aid and assistance of Sri Lanka immediately after the tsunami and this will be remembered in the hearts and minds of all Sri Lankans.

Director-General Dr. Bertolaso said the collection made by the Committee of the Italian Government, including the President of the Republic of Italy, who was then a member of the Committee, was of over Euro 50 million.

This was the highest donation made by an Italian public association as assistance to any country in the world.

He said even in the case of the Kosovo tragedy, which also invoked public sympathy, the Italians did not respond as they did for the people of Sri Lanka.

He said the Italian President was extremely happy that all 29 projects earmarked by the Italian Government have been completed successfully.

The Lankan Ambassador said the tsunami reconstruction projects were now under the supervision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was able to assist the projects and prevent any kind of accusation against the Government representatives responsible for implementation.

The Ambassador said he wanted to convey personal gratitude and appreciation of President Rajapaksa to the President of the Republic of Italy for the aid presented to Sri Lanka.

It was decided that the Euros 7 million would be put to use to maintain the hospitals, schools, infrastructure and other projects implemented by the Italian Government, and to further establish tsunami warning systems with Italian technology and know-how, so that even the tourists will know that they must not worry about going to the beaches in Sri Lanka, as there were tsunami warning systems in place.