China-aided disaster relief goods handed over to Sri Lanka

On 31 May, a chartered airplane carrying relief goods including 1,000 tents and 3,000 folding beds worth RMB 15 million (about $ 2.3 million) arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport. 

Chinese Ambassador Yi Xianliang, Minister of Disaster Management of Sri Lanka Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, the International Emergence Response Team from the Red Cross Society of China and representatives from Chinese enterprises in Sri Lanka came to the airport to receive the relief goods. A handing-over ceremony was solemnly held at the airport.

Ambassador Yi expressed that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang sent condolence letters to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe respectively at the first moment when Sri Lanka encountered the floods and landslides disaster. The Chinese Government announced it would grant $ 1.5 million emergency humanitarian cash assistance to the Sri Lankan side for the relief and reconstruction work.

This time, the Chinese Government donated a large amount of goods including 1,000 tents and 3,000 folding beds urgently needed by the disaster affected Sri Lankan people. The Red Cross Society of China also granted $ 50,000 emergency humanitarian cash assistance to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese in Sri Lanka tried their best to help the disaster affected people through donation and other ways. At present, the south part of China is also suffering severe floods, however, the Chinese Government and people are standing together with the Sri Lanka people.

Minister Yapa said he came to receive the relief goods donated by the Chinese Government under the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. “As Sri Lanka’s closest friend, China provided immediate assistance after the severe floods and landslides happened in the island country. China’s acts of providing such a large amount of relief items as well as the cash assistance showcased the kindness and sincerity of Chinese side. The Sri Lankan side would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Chinese Government and people.”

Yapa stressed support to the suggestion of the Chinese side that $ 1.5 million donated by China would be used to construct a Sri Lanka-China Friendship Village with houses for 100 families affected by the landslide.