Minister condoles over Victoria bushfires

Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has sent a message to the Governor of Victoria Prof. David De Kretser, expressing solidarity with the people of Victoria affected by the recent bushfires in the Province.

“I have been informed of the unrelenting bushfires that have caused loss of life and immense damage to property in your country. The reports I have received of the scale of this disaster particularly affecting the people of Kingslake and Marysville in Victoria are indeed saddening.

We in Sri Lanka are no strangers to natural and man-made disasters. The tsunami of 26th December 2004 which hit Sri Lanka took the lives of over 35,000 people and we recall with gratitude the spontaneous goodwill and assistance extended by the Government and People of Australia to our people, in our hour of need.

“I wish to convey the solidarity of the Government and the People of Sri Lanka with the Government and the People of Australia at this difficult time.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people who have suffered in this disaster.

It is our earnest hope that the people who have been affected by this, disaster will be able to recover soon and look forward to a better future, the letter said.