CHENNAI: Stepping up to help their brethren in their home country in an expression of solidarity, the Sri Lankan nationals living in rehabilitation camps across Tamil Nadu mobilised relief assistance for the people in the Island nation affected by the recent floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.
The resettled community formally handed over two 20-foot container loads of essential relief items to the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai on Thursday. The consignments were dispatched from Chennai to Sri Lanka on Friday to be distributed in the affected areas through the authorities there, sources said.
Beyond the material aid, the community also raised financial assistance through voluntary contributions across the camps. A sum of Rs 12.33 lakh was collected and presented alongside the relief materials.
The community representatives who attended the handover ceremony expressed appreciation for the proactive role played by the Deputy High Commission in coordinating and channelling their relief efforts to Sri Lanka.
They also commended the progressive measures undertaken by the government of Sri Lanka to address the flood situation and support the affected population during this difficult period. The Lankans here also conveyed their confidence that the assistance provided would reach the impacted communities efficiently and in a transparent manner.
This humanitarian gesture comes from a community facing its own challenges. Approximately 60,000 Sri Lankans reside in 106 rehabilitation camps in Tamil Nadu, with an additional 40,000 resettled individuals living outside the camps under police registration. Despite their displacement, they collectively organised to support those suffering from the disaster in their home country.