Emergency Assistance for the Landslide Disaster in Sri Lanka

January 16, 2007

The Government of Japan has decided to provide emergency assistance in kind (tents, blankets, water purifiers, plastic sheets and sleeping mats), equivalent to approximately 15 million yen, to the Government of Sri Lanka, which has sustained landslide and flood disaster caused by torrential rain since January 12.
In Sri Lanka, torrential rain has been continuing since January 12, causing landslides and flooding in six districts: Central Province (Kandy and Nuwara Elia districts), Uva Province (Monaragala and Badulla districts), Eastern Province (Ampara district), and Southern Province (Hambantota district). As a result, 18 persons are dead, 85,342 affected, and 1,391 houses suffered damage (of which 327 were totally destroyed), as of the 15th.

At present, the Government of Sri Lanka is making its own efforts for relief and rehabilitation as the victims are forced to live uncomfortable lives as evacuees in wide-ranging areas in the country, and has requested emergency assistance from Japan.
Japan has decided to extend this emergency assistance from a humanitarian viewpoint and in light of the friendly relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.

(END)