More tsunami aid from Italy

Rohan Mathes

"The Italians are the most tolerant people in the world, and most Sri Lankans feel a sense of immense gratitude for the help the Italians gave during the tsunami", Sri Lankan Ambassador in Italy Hemantha Warnakulasuriya said.

Counsellor Ferrari told Warnakulasuriya that though the tsunami, has caused much devastation to Sri Lanka, it had also a silver lining, in the dark cloud for the consolidation of bilateral relationships between Sri Lanka and Italy.

Tsunami aid from Italy is to be shipped to Trincomalee shortly, Sri Lankan Embassy sources in Rome said.

Counsellor Gabriele Ferrari, Chief of the Safety and Civil Protection Policies of the Parma Province and the International Relations and Development Cooperation Centre, has handed over a fully equipped, modern and exclusive ambulance to the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Italy, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya as a gift, to be shipped to Trincomalee. Following the tsunami, workers of the Parma Province and others had contributed to the fund established by the Parma Provincial Council.

Counsellor Ferrari has pledged to direct the Province, to build three new schools, dedicated for the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities of the Eastern Province. Ferrari is to submit a proposal to the Ambassador soon, who will then in consultation with the Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa, will oversee and ensure the completion of the said projects within a year.