PM visits tsunami hit Aceh Province

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse representing Sri Lanka at the three-day Asian-African summit in Indonesia toured the tsunami-hit Aceh province yesterday.

He also inspected the worst damage caused by the boxing day tidal waves, a press release issued by the Prime Minister's media unit said.

During this tour of the Aceh Province, the Prime Minister also inspected the reconstruction of buildings and areas devastated by the tsunami and the progress of work. As a leader of an Asian nation struck by the same tidal wave, he also spoke to a cross section of the people in the Aceh Province affected by the tsunami and inquired after their well-being and future welfare.

The Prime Minister's tour was of added significance because it was the first time a leader of another tsunami affected country was visiting the Aceh Province to see the worst devastation caused by the tidal waves first hand, the release added.

The three-day Asian-African Summit in Indonesia with the participation of 36 heads of state and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan concluded with a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung conference held in Bandung on April 24.