Helping hand from Trade Ministry

Irangika RANGE

The Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry yesterday dispatched relief material for the flood-affected people in the North Central and Eastern provinces.

The Co-operative Movement donated relief items worth Rs 20 million. The Asian Finance Company, Fonterra Company and Nestle Company responding to a request by Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando had donated 5,000 milk powder packets 500,000 bottles of drinking water and 4,000 packets of milk powder.

The Ministry on a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa from all Ministers to consider relief efforts as an essential service and provide emergency assistance for flood victims sent the relief material to over one million people affected by the floods, said Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando at a media-briefing in Colombo yesterday.

"The Indian Government has helped us by sending relief material following a request by the Sri Lankan Government. These items will be distributed through the Trade Ministry with immediate effect for the flood victims once the first consignment arrives in the country," he said. The consignment is expected to arrive today.

He appealed to the public and businessmen to donate relief items including food, drinking water, water purifying tablets, sleeping mats, blankets, instant meals, sugar, pulses, milk powder, baby milk formula, Panadol, candles, tooth brush, tooth paste and salt.