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India sends medical team to Sri Lanka

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, DEC. 26. An Indian Dornier aircraft touched down at the Ratmalana domestic airport tonight, carrying emergency relief and a medical team. Four more ships are to arrive tomorrow, with more emergency assistance.

"It is in the best traditions of good neighbourly relations and a true expression of being a friend in need. We responded immediately," Mohan Kumar, the acting High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, told The Hindu.

Last May, an Indian ship, INS Sujata, came to the help of the island-nation when floods hit central and southern Sri Lanka. This time, the emergency response from India has been "more rapid."

According to sources, the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, ordered "immediate" relief for Sri Lanka when the official request was made. Earlier in the day, the President's office made the formal request to the Indian High Commission here. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, told The Hindu that he had spoken over telephone to the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao, requesting assistance.

Two ships are scheduled to reach the eastern Trincomalee port and the southern Galle port tomorrow.

They will be carrying four helicopters, inflatable rafts and other equipment for carrying out relief operations.

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'India prepared to join humanitarian effort'

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
NEW DELHI, DEC. 30.

... The Foreign Secretary acquainted the other members of the group with the relief and rescue efforts already launched by India for Sri Lanka and Maldives, including substantial assistance being provided through deployment of Indian naval ships, aircraft and helicopters.

"These had been deeply appreciated by Sri Lanka and Maldives and are continuing. This could be expanded further as needed. As far as the disaster in South India and Island territories is concerned, India is confident that we will be able to deal with the challenges with our own resources and international relief therefore could be directed where it is most urgently required," the spokesman said. Another teleconference at the Foreign Secretary level, with Mr. Saran talking to his counterparts in the U.S. Japan and Australia, is likely to take place tomorrow.



'Ilyushin aircraft being sent'

The spokesman said that two Ilyushin-76 aircraft carrying military field hospitals were expected to reach Sri Lanka tomorrow. Earlier, four naval vessels and seven helicopters had been put into operation. "One of these naval vessels — INS Sandhayak — is being converted to a hospital ship. The others are doing work of ferrying the supplies, clearing the harbours and helping the helicopter operations."


Hospital ship

Similarly, another hospital ship, INS Nirupak, was leaving for Sumatra, Indonesia, tonight, carrying emergency rations, medicines, tents and first aid kits. It would have 10 officers and 240 sailors on board. In the Maldives, there are four aircraft and two naval ships already in operation. Supplies had been ferried by aircraft — Avros and Dorniers — and this had been evidently very successful because the Indian High Commission in Male had now said there was no further requirement of supplies excepting such specific items as water canisters.

Two of these aircraft had been placed at the disposal of the Maldivian authorities and the other two were being used for search and rescue operations. They were also being used for airdropping of food and water packages and medical supplies in different places, he added. ...

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