Foreign humanitarian aid to be systematically distributed, Sri Lankan officials confirm

Sri Lankan officials have confirmed that foreign humanitarian aid will be distributed in a systematic manner. Today, on the 12th, Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Rtd) Aruna Jayasekara, along with members of a committee overseeing the coordination and distribution of this aid, visited the Orugodawatta Warehouse Complex. This facility stores and processes relief items donated by foreign governments for those impacted by the severe weather affecting the island. The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) has stated that they are sorting and distributing the incoming foreign relief consignments from this warehouse to the communities in need. Additionally, a new shipment of aid from other countries arrived yesterday, the 11th, to help those affected by the disaster. In support of individuals impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, the diplomatic community in Colombo has raised Rs. 3.6 million from their personal resources for the government’s “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund. This cheque was presented to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, at the Ministry yesterday. Furthermore, French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Rémi Lambert, expressed that France is ready to provide full support for Sri Lanka's recovery. He made this statement during a meeting yesterday, the 11th, with the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha. The Ambassador mentioned that France aims to assist in various sectors to enhance cooperation between the two countries. In another development, a significant shipment of humanitarian aid from Pakistan also arrived yesterday, the 11th, containing 13 metric tons of relief items that reached the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.