India hands over lorry water bowsers to Sri Lanka for drought relief

In a special event held at the Presidential Secretariat, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, ceremonially handed over the keys of eight lorry water bowsers to President Maithripala Sirisena, as part of India’s assistance to augment drought relief measures in Sri Lanka.

The commitment to donate eight water bowsers and 100 metric tons of rice as immediate assistance for drought relief was made by Dr. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary of India, on behalf of Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera during his recent visit to Sri Lanka in February 2017.

Pursuant to this commitment, India handed over eight lorry mounted water bowsers, locally purchased from Lanka Ashok Leyland, at a cost of Rs. 25 million to Sri Lanka.

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, S. S. Miyanawala, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and other senior officials of Sri Lankan Government were also present on the occasion.  Handing over of the bowsers is part of India’s continued commitment to assist Sri Lanka whenever required.