Norway provides relief to IDPs in East

COLOMBO: The Norwegian Government has provided Rs. 150 million to the immediate humanitarian relief operations for the people affected by the recent violence in Trincomalee District.

The funds will be used to provide food, water and other essential items for IDPs in welfare centres and camps. Special attention will be given to the needs of women and children.

Parts of the allocated funds will go through three local NGOs working in the Trincomalee District. The local organisations that have been granted funds are the Rural Development Foundation (19.5 million Rupees), Community Trust Fund (27.3 million Rupees) and Sinhala, Tamil Rural Women's Network (17.6 million Rupees).

Releasing the funds the Norwegian Ambassador Han Brattskar said: "I would like to express my sympathy for the innocent civilians who are victims of the violence. I hope these funds can help ease the most immediate suffering."