Sri Lanka today received Rs. 2 billion worth of humanitarian aid including milk powder, rice, and medicines from Tamil Nadu.
Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime Minister of Sri Lanka tweeted his sincere gratitude to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Honorable MK Stalin and said, “Sri Lanka gets Rs. 2 billion worth of humanitarian aid from TN CM MK Stalin.
It’s from the Government of #TamilNadu and not from the Union Government of #India. Ship carrying LK Rs.2 billion vessel was flagged from Chennai by @CMOTamilnadu The Cheif Minster of #TamilNadu @mkstalin
— Feroz Khan (@FerozKhanLanka) May 22, 2022
Earlier, the Tamil Assembly had adopted a motion to send relief material worth ₹123 crores.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at that time thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for his initiative to provide humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, which is in the clasp of a serious economic crisis.
In a letter dated May 4, 2022, and addressed to Mr. Stalin, Mr. Rajapaksa said the passage of a resolution to send food, essential items and life-saving drugs was indicative of the Chief Minister’s “good intentions”. “I wish to thank you and the Tamil Nadu government on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, for viewing the country’s crisis from a humanitarian standpoint, rather than as a problem concerning another country,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.
On April 29, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a motion to send relief material worth ₹123 crore to the people of Sri Lanka. The support would entail 40,000 tonnes of rice, over 100 life-saving drugs, and 500 tonnes of milk powder for children.
Mr. Stalin’s gesture, and Mr. Rajapaksa’s response, come despite known cold hostilities between Tamil Nadu and the Rajapaksa administration, which has been accused of executing horrible war crimes against the island nation’s Tamils in the final stages of civil war and the terrible massacre of Tamilians.
In this great gesture of humanity in spite of cold wars, it is noteworthy to know that it was Sri Lanka’s Tamil politicians who had requested Mr. Stalin to consider extending help to all Sri Lankans, and not just Tamils living in the north, east and the central hill country, as was earlier proposed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
Taking their recommendation on board, Mr. Stalin told the House recently: “Sri Lankan Tamil leaders and Tamil organizations made a request that we send support for all Sri Lankans because people of all ethnicities are suffering in this crisis. When I heard that, I was moved. I could not control my emotions. This is the culture of Tamilians.” Invoking celebrated poet Subramaniya Bharathiyar, he said, “ Pagaivanukku arulvai nannenje [Bless your enemy, oh kind heart].”
Sri Lanka is reeling from the blow of a dreadful economic crash resulting in severe shortages of food, medicines, cooking gas, and fuel. Long and regular power cuts have destroyed normal life, while citizens struggle to afford essentials amid skyrocketing prices. The Government of India has extended support totaling $3 billion since January.
On March 31, Mr. Stalin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and conveyed his intention to help Sri Lanka and sought the Centre’s permission for the same which was granted.