India sends medicine for Northern civilians

India, as a goodwill gesture, decided to send humanitarian assistance to civilians and Internally Displaced Persons affected by the conflict in the North as stated in the India-Sri Lanka joint press release of October 26, 2008.

The first consignment of 1,700 tonnes comprising 80,000 ready-to-use family packs containing food, clothing and personal hygiene items arrived in Sri Lanka within three weeks and has already been distributed to those in need with the assistance of the ICRC and the co-operation of the Government of Sri Lanka.

India will continue to work with Sri Lanka in meeting the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Northern Sri Lanka. India has decided on a second instalment of such assistance amounting to approximately Rs 40 million.

A consignment of medicine was handed over by the Foreign Secretary Shri Shivashankar Menon to Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa at a ceremony yesterday.