GOPIO, Malaysia helps displaced Lankans

The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has raised Malaysian Ringgit 12000 to assist displaced civilians in Sri Lanka at a Charity Dinner held at Plantation House in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on August 7 under the patronage of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication Minister P. Chandrasekeran.

GOPIO International Coordinator Selvarajoo Sundram said they hoped to raise another Ringgit 200,000 during the second phase of their fund raising campaign to assist displaced civilians.

The funds will be utilised for long-term projects such as enhancement of the education of children who had been orphaned due to the conflict, he said.

Sundram said the endeavour is to extend the fullest co-operation to the Sri Lankan Government to rebuild the affected from the conflict and make use of this opportunity to develop a long lasting initial relationship to develop Sri Lanka's economy.

He said the GOPIO has agreed to a request made by Malaysian Entreprenurs for an organised group to visit Sri Lanka in future to discuss investments and identify initially viable economic development projects.

The vast experience of Malaysian Entrepreneurs will assist development and growth of a new Sri Lanka. Sundram said Minister Chandrasekeran's visit in particular has helped to establish a new socio-economic bridge between the two peoples of Sri Lanka and Malaysia.