Lanka sends relief, medicare teams

The Government responded swiftly to the massive earthquake disaster in Nepal last evening with an SLAF C-130 transport being readied to carry the first load of emergency relief supplies along with the first medical aid and search and rescue specialist teams to be sent to Kathmandu.

Emergency assistance planning began last evening on the initiative of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with a meeting of officials chaired by Secretary to President P. B. Abeykoon and including officials from the ministries of Health, Disaster Management, Foreign Affairs and military and police officers, government sources disclosed.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mangala Samaraweera had telephoned his Nepali counterpart in Kathmandu to condole over the tragic loss of life and the severe damage caused by the disaster, a Foreign Ministry media release said last night. President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe were also due to make telephone calls to their governmental counterparts in Nepal later last night.

The Ministry statement said: "The Government and the people of Sri Lanka is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to property caused by the earthquake which occurred this (25th April) morning in Nepal and extends sincere condolences to the Government and people of Nepal particularly the families of the bereaved and wish a speedy recovery to those injured by this calamity. The Sri Lanka Air Force C-130 Aircraft will carry a medical team consisting of doctors from the military and the Health Ministry including surgeons, anesthetists, nurses and relief assistance contingent and, also, tents, generators, communication, excavating and other equipment. Further assistance would be considered after a needs assessment in Nepal. Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Nepal, W.M. Senevirathna has ascertained the safety and welfare of the Sri Lankans in Nepal and has reported to Colombo that the 120 Sri Lankan students at the Manipal University in Pokhara and around 20 Sri Lankans in Kathmandu, are safe.