Doha: The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has assured that his country will extend all assistance to Sri Lanka to help recover from the devastation wrought by the killer tsunami that struck its shores on Sunday morning, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar, ALM Yousuf, said here yesterday. The ambassador, who is scheduled to depart Doha shortly, met Sheikh Tamim yesterday morning.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, following the tsunami, had appealed to the international community for help and the request to Qatar was made by the ambassador as part of this plea.
The ambassador said that the entire Sri Lankan community, through its organisations such as the Lanka Lions, Sri Lankan Majlis, Quantity Surveyors, Sri Lanka Cultural Association and the Stafford International School had risen to the occasion and were collecting clothes, medicines and food products to be rushed to Colombo to provide relief to disaster victims. An estimated 150 to 200 Sri Lankan expatriate families are believed to have been directly affected by the calamity and some were departing for Colombo to get a first hand look at the situation, he added.
The president of Sri Lankan Majlis, Nazeem Yakoob, said that about 5,000 Sri Lankan expatriates in Qatar would have been directly or indirectly affected by the tsunami and about 15 families were to fly to Colombo last night to search for their family members who could not be contacted, despite the apparent hurdles in accessing the affected areas. The Majlis has already organised medicines, food items and garments to be sent to Sri Lanka for the victims, he said.
One of the members of the Majlis' executive committee, Rizan Moulana, was directly affected by the tidal wave which hit the Hambantota resort on the island, Yakoob revealed. "His parents are missing while some other relatives are suspected to have perished in the killer wave. The fate of Rizan's sisters was also not known," he said. The Majlis, in a statement issued yesterday, said that it was deeply saddened by the tragedy and called for contributions from any person or organisation. Those who wish to contribute towards the efforts may contact the Majlis on 5829209, 5569021, 5211464 and 5551457.
© The Peninsula 2004
