Ravi asks international community for help

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake made an appeal at a recent meeting with the heads of residential foreign missions in Sri Lanka to assist the Government with the recovery and rebuilding program initiated in the aftermath of the floods that devastated the country last week. 

Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Sri Lanka from 134 countries, including the High Commissioners of the United Kingdom and India and the Ambassadors of the United States of America, Japan, China and Russia, participated in the discussion.Addressing the media after the meeting with the heads of foreign missions, Karunanayake said the High Commissioners and Ambassadors had pledged to extend support towards strengthening the forward march of Sri Lanka.

The Minister also told the media that the Ambassadors and High Commissioners agreed to meet him once a month in order to discuss bilateral relations.

Karunanayake added that 24 countries had already provided relief assistance in the effort to rebuild the lives of those affected by the disaster. He also said that details of countries that immediately extended support would be released to the media over the next few days.Newly-appointed State Minister of Foreign Affairs Wasantha Senanayake and Foreign Ministry Secretary Esala Weerakoon were also present at the meeting.