Online edition of Daily News

People of the North contributed their share to alleviate the suffering of their counterparts in the South who were caught up in one of the worst flood disasters in recent times. Shedding their attrition of over two decades, the LTTE yesterday came with convoys from the North to distribute among the affected in the South.

The mission theme 'friendship bridge' was a concept of the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to assist 'our people' who were affected by the worst ever flood to hit Sri Lanka in the recent past, LTTE political wing representatives told the media at the Ministry of Community Development, where the media and the LTTE members have assembled.

Offering the hand of friendship the LTTE came forward to help the affected victims of the country’s worst ever flood. The picture shows the LTTE political wing members Eliyan and Ombersan handing over ‘flood aid’ worth Rs. 3.5 million to the Community Development Minister P. Chandrasekeran in his ministry, yesterday. Picture by Saman Mendis.

"We in North have suffered at the cruel hand of the war and we know how it is to lose one's lifetime earnings and to flee from one's own house. The flood victims of South have met a similar fate today and the LTTE leader wanted us to come forward to help," they said. Within just 45 minutes we could collect dry rations, medicine, clothes and other immediate relief worth over 3.5 million.

The LTTE's temporary withdrawal from the talks had no effect on the programme, they claimed. All these relief goods have come from Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Killinochchi and Jaffna districts, Vavuniya political wing leader Eliyan said. "We have no ulterior moves behind this, we only want to help our brothers who were affected by floods. There is no discrimination against any race, we only want to help to alleviate their suffering," Eleian said.

The LTTE members arrived in Kalutara yesterday noon to distribute aid among the victims.

LTTE political wing representatives from Killinochchi and Vavuniya offices and the Tamil Eelam National Re-awakening Forum representatives from Vavuniya, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Jaffna were present at the meeting.