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| Thursday, 13 January 2005 |
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by P. Krishnaswamy The Sri Lankan government did a good job, very efficiently coordinating relief and rescue operations, in the aftermath of the tsunami national disaster, said visiting US Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. at a press briefing last Tuesday at Colombo Plaza. He also said that given the magnitude of the devastation it is a difficult job which needs long term assistance in coordination with the UN. The US congressman was on a visit to the island with six other US Congressmen and two members of the US Senate. On arrival in Colombo they were flown in helicopters to Galle and from there they went on land to the Boosa camp where refugees are housed. They also visited tsunami affected areas and Buddhist temples in Hikkaduwa where refugees are housed. Congressman Pallone has been the Chairman of the Sri Lankan Caucus in Congress, a Sri Lankan support group, for the last over five years. He has also been Chairman of the India Caucus for the past 6 years. Anoma Akmeemana, a Sri Lankan settled in the US, who organised the Sri Lankan Caucus in early 1998 was also present together with the US delegation. Anoma is a political activist holding several positions including Vice-Chair of the National Advisory Council (South Asian Affairs). She is also Sri Lanka representative for the Democratic State Committee Asia Caucus. Former parliamentarian and Minister Harindra Corea, who had met Pallone in US in 2001 during his tenure as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister was also present at the press briefing. Pallone said that they saw at first hand the damages caused by the tsunami and also listened to heart-rending tales of unfortunate victims, both children and elders, who were housed in refugee camps in Boosa. Their visit here is part of their South East Asian itinerary which also includes a trip to Chennai. They have already visited the tsunami affected Banda Ache province in Indonesia and Phuquet area in Thailand, Pallone said. They were briefed by the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington DC on the natural disaster prior to their South East Asian tour, he said. They would be making an assessment of the damages and would consider providing technical and other assistance as may be deemed necessary on return to the US. They were heartened to see the USAID, other US humanitrian organisations and the US military, including the US marines, engaged here in relief operations. They saw for themselves the extensive damage to the fishing and tourist industries in the island's coastal areas and they would consider extending assistance to the two sectors as well, Pallone said. He said that peace in island is of paramount importance and the people want to live in peace and amity after the natural disaster. He would also welcome resumption of peace process started sometime ago, he said. |
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