Sri Lanka will give US $ 100,000 through the Norwegian Embassy as financial aid for the victims affected by the ‘Nargis’ cyclone that ravaged Myanmar, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said at a media briefing yesterday.


The move comes after a request made by Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda to the Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Tore Hattrem. “600 villages were destroyed in Myanmar by the cyclone which left over 100,000 dead and more than 40,000 missing,” minister Yapa said. He pointed out that despite the great destruction, the magnitude of the disaster was not conveyed to Sri Lankans in an adequate manner. ‘This is why the collecting of aid for the cyclone victims had a lackluster response,” he added.


Sri Lanka will assist the victims by donating clothes and dry rations amounting to 20 tonnes. Items such as tea, robes for Buddhist monks, milk powder, biscuits and clothes are currently being collected at various collection centres located in temples in the vicinity of Colombo. The clergy involved in the project urge the donors to hand in the items before May 20. “So far 16 tonnes worth of aid has been collected and we appreciate the help given by schools and the private sector,” Maduluwawe Sohitha Thero said. The initiative to assist Myanmar came as a response to a country that helped Sri Lanka during various religious crises the Thero pointed out.


 “Chlorine tablets, medicine, dry rations and clothes are the immediate necessities so we urge those interested to deliver these items to the collection centres as soon as possible,” Moragoda said. He told the Daily Mirror that the aid would be distributed to the victims through local governmental authorities of Myanmar. Newly appointed CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines Manoj Gunewardena confirmed to the Daily Mirror that the chartered flight intended to transport the goods to Myanmar was scheduled for next week.

Ambassodar Hattrem who also spoke at the forum expressed his pleasure at being given a chance to assist Sri Lanka in this charitable endeavour for which the Sangha and the Catholic Church united, casting aside religious differences.