Help sought for flood victims in Sri Lanka

dubai — The Sri Lankan government has urged Sri Lankan expatriates and well-wishers in the UAE to support the relief efforts in the wake of floods and landslides that have left at least 146 people dead and over 442,000 people badly affected.

In a statement, the Sri Lankan Consulate in the UAE noted that the country’s government “encourages monetary assistance rather than collecting material for the victims”.

“Those Sri Lankan expatriates and well-wishers living in UAE can contribute to the National Flood and Landslide Victims Relief Operations through the Consulate-General of Sri Lanka in Dubai,” the statement added. “All such contributions will be acknowledged by an official receipt issued by the ConsulateGeneral and will be transmitted to the Ministry of Disaster Management, which is the sole authority in the government of Sri Lanka in handling the relief and rescue operation.” Donations will be accepted by the consulate between 8.30am and 4.15pm, Monday through Friday.

Additionally, the government has identified a number of relief materials and equipment as priority items, which include tarpaulin sheets, tents, generators with flash lights, foldable sleeping mattresses, female sanitary packs, baby diapers, bed sheets and blankets, and bath towels.

Anyone wishing to contribute these items — especially the first three, which are not available on the local market — can donate through Sri Lankan associations and organisations operating in the UAE. These items will then be airlifted to Colombo to be dispatched to the disaster areas.