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SL’s overseas missions make urgent appeal for funds for disaster victims
The Sri Lanka High Commission in London launched an urgent appeal on Friday for funds to help the victims of widespread landslides and floods which have claimed at least 64 lives and affected over 400,000 persons in several districts in the country.
The appeal went out to the Sri Lankan community and others on a directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.
The Foreign Ministry initiative came hard on the heels of an appeal to members of the Commonwealth on Thursday by its new Secretary-General (SG), Baroness Patricia Scotland.
“As we extend our deepest sympathies to the Sri Lankan people and its government, we recognise that, the effects of this disaster will continue to have an impact for many months and years to come. I am calling on the Commonwealth family to provide support to Sri Lanka through coordinated assistance in the aftermath of this tragedy,” SG Scotland said in a statement issued here on Thursday.
Acting High Commissioner Sugeeshwara Gunaratna told the Sunday Times that the foreign ministry in Colombo had asked all Sri Lankan diplomatic missions to appeal for donations.
He said that only monetary contributions are accepted and not donations in the way of goods for logistical reasons. Funds would be needed in the process of settling affected persons many of whom have lost their houses too.
The High Commission, in its appeal, published on its website on Friday, detailed the manner in which donations could be made.
On Wednesday night, the High Commission held a pirith ceremony and a heel dana the next morning for Buddhist monks from several viharas and temples in the UK, to mark Vesak.