Lanka helps flood victims in India

The Government has made a donation of Indian Rs. 2,225,560 ($ 50,000) to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund set up on behalf of the flood victims in the Indian State of Bihar.

The cheque was handed over by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, Romesh Jayasinghe, to the Resident Commissioner of Bihar in New Delhi, C.K. Mishra on September 12.

Heavy monsoon rains caused a river flowing through Bihar to change its course and flood a part of the State that is normally not prone to inundation.

It is estimated that well over two million people have either been displaced or suffered some grave damage to their livelihoods.

Speaking on the occasion of handing over the cheque, Jayasinghe said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had written to Indian Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh in the previous week, expressing the deep sorrow of the Government and people of Sri Lanka on the loss of lives and suffering caused by the severe floods.

The President in his letter had also recalled that Bihar is familiar to the people of Sri Lanka.