President says will gift Sri Lankan tea to fire-hit Australia

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said he would gift a stock of Sri Lankan tea to Australia which has been badly hit by raging wildfires.

He had made these remarks during a telephone call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison today (Jan 7), the President’s Office said in a statement.

During his conversation, the President had expressed his condolences to the families of the victims who had died in the fires.

Rajapaksa had stated that Sri Lanka which has been facing natural disasters including floods since the 2004 tsunami is empathetic towards the people of Australia at this time.

The wildfires in Australia have already claimed the lives of more than 30 individuals including rescue workers while causing massive destruction to the country’s flora and fauna.

It is believed that more than five million animals have been killed due to the blazes which have been going on for several months, the statement noted.