Emergency aid expected from Tamil Nadu during weekend - CWC President

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has taken this initiative along with the people of Tamil Nadu as a friendly gesture

By Kelum Bandara

A consignment of emergency aid – 40,000 tonnes of rice, 250,000 kilos of milk powder and 30 tonnes of medicines - is expected to be delivered to Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu during the weekend, an official said. 

In a brief interview with Daily Mirror, Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) President Senthil Thondaman told Daily Mirror Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin took the initiative for the collection of these relief items for distribution among the needy people in Sri Lanka.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has taken this initiative along with the people of Tamil Nadu as a friendly gesture.
Mr. Thondaman said the distribution of food items would be coordinated through the government’s machinery.
Asked how this would help develop ties between Sri Lanka and the state government of Tamil Nadu, he said it was a friendly gesture from Tamil Nadu.

“We cannot find a solution to the dollar crisis locally. We need external sources to support us. It is better to be friendly with everyone rather than having a confrontational  attitude,” he said.

Besides, he said he had sought investments from Tamil Nadu.

“It is commercially viable for some companies to put up their manufacturing plants in Sri Lanka, targeting the Tamil Nadu market. Tamil Nadu is more accessible to Sri Lanka than to some north Indian states,” he said.   

• It is commercially viable for some companies to put up their manufacturing plants in Sri Lanka, targeting the Tamil Nadu market