India has given an “open cheque” to Sri Lanka as part of its contribution towards the relief programme for the displaced people caught up in the fighting in the Wanni, a senior official said yesterday.
Essential Services Commissioner D. B. Divaratne said New Delhi had asked for a list of items required to boost the aid effort and the initial shipment would cost India about Sri Lankan Rs. 100 million.
The Indian contribution would consist mainly of cooking utensils, housing sheets, clothes and tents, Mr. Divaratne said. The list would be completed this week and forwarded to the Indian High Commissioner through the Presidential Secretariat.
“The UN or any other NGO or INGO will not be involved in this programme since it is a government-to-government agreement and the goods will be delivered directly to the Essential Services Department,” Mr. Divaratne said.
The Indian aid would be taken to the Wanni by the Government Agent in convoys that accompany the UN relief trucks, Mr. Divaratne said.
He said the matter was further discussed with Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu GAs on Friday and their advice was sought to finalise the list of required items.
Indian High Commission spokesperson Dinkar Astana said the Indian aid would be delivered directly to the Sri Lankan authorities in terms of the agreement the two countries reached in New Delhi last Sunday.
Meanwhile a UN sponsored convoy consisting of some 29 trucks will leave the northern town of Vavuniya for the conflict zone tomorrow with 438 tons of food and other essential items, the head of the World Food Program’s Colombo Chief Azeb Asrahe said.
About 200,000 people are known to have been displaced in the Wanni due to the current fighting between the security forces and the LTTE.
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