Colombo, May 30 (newsin.asia):A third Indian Naval Ship, INS Jalashwa, arrived at Colombo Port on Tuesday from Vishakapatnam, as part of India’s ongoing assistance to flood relief in Sri Lanka.
This is the largest of the three Indian ships sent to Sri Lanka with relief material and personnel INS Jalashwa has specialized equipment, including a landing platform / dock, disembarkation crafts, helicopters, and a fully equipped hospital with operation theaters and laboratories.
With around 400 personnel on board, the ship has multiple rescue and diving teams, along with inflatable boats and medical supplies. It has also brought additional relief material.
The High Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu handed over the relief material to P.B. Abeykoon, Secretary to the Sri Lankan President, and Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy.
High Commissioner Sandhu said that joint Indian and Sri Lankan naval teams are doing a superb job in Ground Zero both in rescuing the stranded and in providing them emergency medical treatment.
Later in the day, Ravi Karunanayake, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, along with the High Commissioner, flagged off the deployment of Indian Navy teams to various locations across Sri Lanka particularly Akussera and Deniyaya in Matara District and Divitura in Galle District. These teams will work with the Sri Lanka Navy in rescue and relief operations.
In his comments, High Commissioner Sandhu reiterated India’s unwavering commitment and support to Sri Lanka in the relief operations. He said that as requested by the Government of Sri Lanka, India has focused on rescue operations by providing specialized diving and medical teams as well as essential relief items. Indian Specialized Disaster Management compact teams are ready to assist in case of requirement.
The Sri Lankan dignitaries thanked the Government of India for its continued support.
Meanwhile, the rescue and medical teams from INS Shardul, which reached Colombo on May 28, continued to provide assistance in Kalutara and Ratnapura. Joint medical camps with Sri Lankan Navy personnel were organized in different places, including Nagoda Hospital in Kalutara.
Indian Air Force aircraft delivered essential spare parts for Sri Lankan Air Force helicopters.
In response to an appeal by the Sri Lankan government, India also sent weather data for four days.
(The featured picture at the top shows the Sri Lankan navy chief, Vice.Adm.Ravindra Wijegunaratne receiving the relief material from the Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu)
