NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, MAY 3
Having received the Central nod to send relief materials to Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said the state government will send rice, milk power and life saving drugs to Sri Lanka in the first phase. He also appealed to the people to contribute money for the purpose.
ஈகைப் பண்பு நிறைந்த தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்கள் ஒன்றுகூடி உதவிடுவோம்!
நெருக்கடியான பொருளாதாரச் சூழலில் அல்லலுறும் இலங்கை மக்களைக் காத்திடுவோம்!
திமுக சார்பில் ரூ.1 கோடியும் – கழகச் சட்டமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களின் ஒருமாத ஊதியமும் முதலமைச்சர் பொது நிவாரண நிதிக்கு வழங்கப்படும்.#TNhelpsSriLanka pic.twitter.com/EUktFz7j8z
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 3, 2022
A personal thanks to Hon'ble @DrSJaishankar for accepting TN’s request to help the people of SL. Am sure that this humane gesture will be greatly welcomed by all and help to improve the warmth and cordiality between nations. Let the goodwill grow in all spheres. pic.twitter.com/AKgLnfXVmo
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 2, 2022
Stalin said with the permission of the Union government, the state will soon send 40,000 tons of rice, 500 tons of milk powder and life saving drugs to Sri Lanka caught in a severe economic crisis.
He also appealed to the people to donate on humanitarian basis so that necessary items can be bought and sent to the island nation. Earlier, Stalin had requested the Union government to allow the state to ship the essentials, including food grains, vegetables and medicines, from the Thoothukudi port to the Tamils living in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and Colombo, as well as those working in plantations who are reeling under the severe crisis.
On April 29, the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Union government to positively consider the state government’s request to immediately dispatch food and life-saving medicines to crisis-hit Sri Lanka.
Chief Minister M K Stalin who piloted the resolution unanimously passed by the House, including the opposition AIADMK and the BJP, said, “We can’t see the development in Sri Lanka as the neighbouring country’s internal issue. We need to extend humanitarian aid…help should be prompt, on time.”
Responding to the Assembly resolution, Jaishankar stated that the island nation would accept inclusive relief on a government-to-government basis.
“The Foreign Secretary had spoken to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and highlighted on April 16, that the government of Sri Lanka would be open to humanitarian support on government-to-government basis,” the Union Minister said in the letter dated May 1.
Jaishankar asked Stalin to direct the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to coordinate with the government of India for supply and distribution of humanitarian relief material to the Sri Lankan government.
“The relief material will be shared with the government of Sri Lanka to be distributed appropriately in the current circumstances,” he said.
