Sri Lanka hands over USD 25,000 and tea for Cyclone victims in Fiji

March 30, 2016

The Sri Lankan government has donated US$ 25,000, and 100kg of tea to the people of Fiji, as a symbolic contribution towards relief assistance in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston that ravaged the Fiji Islands last February.

The cheque was handed over by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Australia Somasundaram Skandakumar, to the Fijian High Commissioner in Australia Yogesh Punja on 23rd March. The consignment of tea will be dispatched by the Sri Lanka Tea Board directly to the National Disaster Management Office in Fiji.

In handing over the cheque, High Commissioner Skandakumar said that Sri Lanka was well aware of the devastation that can result from a natural disaster, having immensely suffered from the 2004 tsunami. The symbolic donation is a reflection of the Sri Lankan people’s empathy towards the people of Fiji who are still in distress and struggling to overcome the destruction and damage caused by the Cyclone. He also referred to the very cordial relations that exist between the two countries, and expressed the hope that the resilience of the Fijian people will help them in facing the challenges ahead of them.

The Fijian High Commissioner thanked Sri Lanka for the symbolic gesture and explained the relief assistance underway to help the people in the affected areas.

Sri Lanka High Commissioner
Canberra

29th March 2016