Chinese companies continue assisting Sri Lanka flood victims

Representatives from the Chinese owned Zhongtian Construction Group hand over relief items to officials from the Disaster Management Center and the army in Pahiyangala Village, in southern Sri Lanka, 2 June

Colombo (Xinhua): The Colombo Port City Company and the Chinese owned Zhongtian Construction Group have delivered relief items to families affected by the major floods and landslides which hit Sri Lanka last week.

Representatives from the two companies on Friday visited the Pahiyangala Village, in southern Sri Lanka and handed over relief items to officials from the Disaster Management Center and the army, who thanked the two companies for their prompt assistance, at the Yatagampitiya Primary School which presently shelters some of the affected families.

The Colombo Port City Company donated 6,200 cups of instant noodles while the Zhongtian Construction Group donated 10 beds, 20 bags of concrete, 40 meters cloth, 100 boxes of drinking water, 30 boxes of biscuits, 24 boxes of instant noodles, five disinfectant sprays and some toys for the children.

U.H.R Upul Kumara, the Disaster Management Relief Service Officer in Pahiyangala, said that he was extremely grateful for the assistance rendered by the Chinese Government and the Chinese companies as relief supplies were still needed for the affected people. Pahiyangala Village, housing around 700 families, is one of the worst affected villages when severe rains and strong winds caused devastating floods and landslides since 26 May. Army officials said around 26 people were buried when a landslide hit the area last week, while 65 houses were completely damaged.

“Our house was completely destroyed and now we live in my sister’s house. There is nothing left,” Nilanthi Dhammika, a resident in this village said.

Nilanthi thanked the Chinese Government and Chinese companies for the relief and said her village symbolised the strong ties shared between China and Sri Lanka.

A villager receives medical treatment from Chinese Blue Sky Rescue Team in Pahiyangala Village, in southern Sri Lanka, 2 June. The team arrived in Sri Lanka and are presently in some of the worst affected areas, assisting Sri Lankan officials and forces in cleaning efforts, distributing relief and providing medical assistance – Pix Xinhua/Huang Haimin

Nilanthi also praised officials from the Chinese owned Blue Sky Rescue Team who arrived in Sri Lanka this week and are presently in some of the worst affected areas assisting the Sri Lankan officials and forces in cleaning efforts, distributing relief and providing medical assistance.

The floods and landslides which has been the worst to hit Sri Lanka since 2003, has so far claimed 206 lives, according to the Disaster Management Center.