Lanka to deliver relief supplies to Myanmar

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Sri Lanka will fly relief supplies to cyclone-hit Myanmar to be delivered to Myanmar's Religious Affairs Ministry tomorrow (23) by a team of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

The team is scheduled to leave for Myanmar today. The first instalment of relief supplies comprising clothing, robes, dry rations, towels and meat items will be flown to Myanmar tomorrow.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the relief items will be received by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Myanmar.

The minister said that the community of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka had discussed with the Government to assist Myanmar from the time they learnt that the May 2 storm has ravaged that country. The disaster has killed over 66,000 people leaving millions homeless.

Minister Abeywardena said, "the Buddhist monks have collected aid from the public of Sri Lanka, including businessmen and other donors, who have promptly responded, supplying them with relief items in abundance."

The Minister was speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the Media Ministry. Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Ven. Brahmanawatte Seewali Anunayaka Thera, Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera, , Chief Sanghanayaka in Japan Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera, Ven. Theeniyawala Palitha Thera and Minister Gunawardane were also present. "We have arranged to deliver the supplies to the affected public in Myanmar through the coordination of Myanmar's Religious Affairs Ministry," he said.

"We are also thankful to the Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda who got funds from the Royal Norwegian Government to finance the flight."

"The Norwegian Ambassador has provided necessary facilities for this. He would make arrangements for another flight to carry the relief supplies once the items are ready," said Abeywardena.

The Norwegian ambassador also said that he would assist us in getting sea transport to supply goods to Myanmar, he said. "The relief effort was first mooted in a discussion which took place with the participation of Prof. Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Nayaka Thera, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha thera and Ven. Muruttettuwe Thera."

Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha thera has provided two tons of dry rations in two lorry loads, Ven. Kotapola Amarakitthi thera has provided a load of one lorry, Archbishop of Colombo Rev.Fr. Oswald Gomis has supplied three tons of supplies.

The Ministry of Buddha Sasana has given 715 saffron robes, The Tea Board 1,600 kilograms of tea, Maliban has supplied three tons of biscuits and 500 packets of milk powder, donors M.H.Piyasena has given 500 packets of milk powder and Hettiarachchi 500 packets of milk.