Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe said that food, medicine and financial assistance are being provided to the people of Sri Lanka in response to a request made by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
At present, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation has provided Sri Lanka with a sum of 700,000 Swiss Francs or about 270 million Sri Lankan rupees, he said.
Mr. Abeysinghe said that the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has launched a number of programs including providing financial assistance of Rs. 20,000 each to 4,000 low income families, providing school equipment worth Rs. 5,000 to 5,000 school children and emergency first aid.
He added that the Singapore Red Cross and the Chinese Red Cross have already provided essential food items to the affected families in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Jagath Abeysinghe stated that the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has requested the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the Sri Lankan people affected by the situation in Sri Lanka.