President, PM express sorrow

BY ANANTH Palakidnar

PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse have sent messages to the Indian and Pakistani leaders expressing their sorrow and pledging assistance to them to overcome the disaster caused by the earthquake that ripped through both countries.

Despite his busy campaign schedule, Prime Minister and UPFA Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse expressed his condolences to Pakistan Ambassador Bashir Wali Mohmand within a few hours, Deputy Pakistan High Commissioner Ishtiaq Andradi said.

According to Andradi, the Prime Minister while expressing his sympathies to the Pakistan envoy offered Sri Lankan assistance if it was necessary.

"The disaster is massive and the Pakistan Government is busy making an assessment of the situation. We hear that other countries are getting ready to send their relief assistance. It is too early to say what the Pakistan Government expects from Sri Lanka," Andradi added.