The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has dispatched emergency relief supplies to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka following the recent floods which have ravaged the country.

Emergency goods with a value of 23 million JPY arrived in the country’s biggest city, Colombo and a handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Disaster Management at 11 am on 11 January.

The ceremony was attended by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister, Ministry of Disaster Management, Hon. Nobuhiro Hobo, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Mr Harumi Ao, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka Office.

During the ceremony, Mr Amaraweera expressed his gratitude for Japan’s prompt assistance. In response, Ambassador Hobo expressed his sympathy to the victims of the floods and stated that the assistance is a symbol of firm friendly relations between the two countries, which was also seen in Sri Lanka’s assistance to Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake in 2011. Mr Ao expressed his wishes that the relief goods are of assistance to those affected, and said that JICA hoped to continue supporting the country not only through emergency relief but also in the area of disaster management.

All goods will be distributed to the victims by the Sri Lankan government.