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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation, Moscow, promptly initiated a programme among expatriates to raise relief funds for flood victims in Sri Lanka.
The gesture, launched by Mr Udayanga Weeratunga, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation, drew a positive response and was able to collect a sum of US $ 15,700 within a few days as the generous support of several Sri Lankans, resident there, poured in response to the SOS request went out from the embassy.
Following a collective decision, donors were able to prepare 2250 bags of dry rations, each of 7.5 kg that contained rice (4 kg), sugar (1 kg), dhal (1 kg), wheat flour (1 kg), dry fish, chillies and soap to the value of Rs 2.2 million, using generous donations received from Russia.
Those organizers in a special request made to the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, sought the Army’s assistance for distribution of 1100 such relief bags of dry rations among the affected in Welikankda areas in the east. Lieutenant General Jayasuriya responded to the gesture from Moscow and made necessary arrangements for distribution of those gift parcels.
Those generous expatriate philanthropists included Messrs Udayanga Weeratunga, Saman Weerasinghe, Saman Jayamaha, Hiran Karunarathne, Janaka Hamangoda, Gamini Abeywickrama, Ajith Malwatte, Nishantha Perera, Adikari Wijesinghe, D. Wickremage, Rupasiri Perera and S. Abeysekara.
