A large humanitarian consignment worth Rs 3 billion consisting of 14,700 Metric Tonnes (MT) of rice, 250 MT of milk powder and 38 MT of medicines donated by the people of India reached Colombo port today, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health, Nalin Fernando, Minister of Trade, Members of Parliament namely M.A Sumanthiran, V. Radhakrishnan, M. Udaya Kumar, Angajan Ramanthan, and several others including Senthil Thondaman took part in a ceremony that was held today to welcome the shipment.
The large consignment of humanitarian supplies underscores abiding people to people bonds between India and Sri Lanka as also concerns of the people of India for the well-being of their brethren in Sri Lanka. These supplies shall be distributed among beneficiaries by the Sri Lankan government in the coming days.
As part of an overall commitment to providing 40,000 MT of rice, 500 MT of milk powder, and medicines by the Government of Tamil Nadu, this is the second consignment.
“India’s unprecedented economic, financial and humanitarian assistance to the people of Sri Lanka stands at over USD 3.5 billion in 2022,” a statement from the High Commission noted.
In addition to the three credit lines to the tune of more than USD 1.5 billion and forex support of around USD 2 billion, assistance from the Government and people of India has taken the form of supply of medicines to several health-related establishments in various parts of Sri Lanka, distribution of kerosene among the fishermen of Sri Lanka, handing over of dry rations to needy sections etc, the statement added.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
Three persons arrested on Saturday close to the Thalawila St Anne’s Church have been held under detention orders for questioning.
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