ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday May 11, 2008
Vol. 42 - No 50
News  

Govt., clergy join in relief effort for Myanmar

By Himal Kotelawala

The Sri Lankan Government and several local organisations have stepped forward to extend help to the victims of the cyclone that devastated Myanmar last week.

An estimated 22,000 people have been killed and some 1.5 million severely affected in what has been described as the deadliest storm to hit Asia since 1991. Some reports put the death toll caused by Cyclone Nargis at more than 100,000.

Sri Lankan and Myanmar Buddhist monks pray for Myanmar's cyclone victims at the historic Naga Vihara in Kotte . Myanmar and Sri Lanka have enjoyed cultural and religious ties since the 11th century. Both being nations with a Buddhist background they established diplomatic relations 59 years ago.. Pic by M.A.Pushpakumara

On Wednesday the Foreign Ministry gave the Myanmar Government US$ 25,000 in aid, through the Myanmar Embassy in Colombo. An embassy spokesman told The Sunday Times the money would be sent to Myanmar in the course of this week. In response to allegations that the Myanmar Government was refusing international aid, the embassy official said his country was open to assistance from any friendly nation.

“We have even permitted a US C-130 aircraft to land on our soil,” he said. “Thailand, the biggest donor so far, sent two military aircraft to Myanmar. We have no problem accepting international aid,” he said.

The Buddhist clergy is also offering financial and other aid to Myanmar which, like Sri Lanka, is a Theravada Buddhist nation. Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Kotuwegoda Dhammawasa Thera, head of the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, said the Buddhist clergy and Myanmar’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Tin Oo Lwin, were working on a process to expedite the despatching of funds and other assistance to Myanmar.

“Sri Lanka and Myanmar have had a continuous friendship that goes back thousands of years, and Buddhism is part of the foundation of that friendship,” Ven. Dhammawasa said. “It is a solid friendship dating back to the Anuradhapura era, and it is entrenched in Theravada Buddhism. We must to the best of our ability help the people of Myanmar.”

Ven. Dhammawasa said bank accounts have been opened at the Bank of Ceylon Unity Plaza branch, Bambalapitiya, for Sri Lankans to donate money for Myanmar victims. The account number for donations in euros is 7997034; for US dollars 7997008, and for Sri Lankan rupees 8000522.

“The three chapters of the clergy and the Amarapura Dayaka Sabha are collecting essential items to send to the people of Myanmar,” he said. “We extend our sympathies to the families of the victims on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, and we wish them a speedy return to normalcy, without fear of disease and famine.”

The Myanmar-Sri Lanka Friendship Association is also helping out in the relief effort by collecting funds and food items, according to Ven. Dhammawasa, who is an advisor to the organisation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment has sent a supply of water, among other things, aboard a cargo plane to Myanmar, according to ministry secretary H. M. Herath.

“We have sent water bottles, water tanks and other items to be distributed among those affected,” he said. Myanmar’s ambassador Tin Oo Lwin said he was deeply grateful for all the help extended to his country.

“I am very thankful to all of the Buddhist clergy,” he said. There’s so much suffering and misery in our country right now. Eighty years ago a cyclone came and took more than 3,000 lives. This one is more serious and much more devastating. We are very thankful for all the help we have received from Sri Lanka.”

 
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