The Indian government should provide assistance to protect the people of Sri Lanka from natural disasters !

Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka:

Indian Government Must Provide Massive Aid to Protect Sri Lankan People from Natural Disaster!

Demand from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi!

The 'Titva' cyclone that swept across Sri Lanka has caused unbearably severe damage. More than a hundred people have died. Hundreds are missing. Furthermore, the economic damage caused by the current Titva cyclone is many times greater than the economic devastation caused by the Tsunami; it is understood that it will take many years for Sri Lanka to recover from this massive devastation. In this critical disaster-relief situation, the Indian Union Government must provide massive aid on humanitarian grounds. The Indian Government, which is currently engaged in relief work, must continue to assist the Sri Lankan people, including the Tamil people, until they recover.

Just as the cyclone, rain, and floods have caused widespread destruction in Southern Sri Lanka and the traditional homeland of Tamils in the North and East, landslides have occurred in the Hill Country areas, claiming many lives. The lives of the Hill Country Tamils have been severely affected. This Titva cyclone has been recorded as the largest 'climate-related natural disaster' in the history of Sri Lanka. So far, 150 people have died, 203 are missing, and eight and a half lakh people have been affected, as announced by Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre. However, reports suggest that the loss will be many times greater than this.

Titva is the second natural disaster to cause the highest number of casualties in Sri Lanka since the 2004 Tsunami. While the economic impact of the Tsunami was confined to coastal areas, Titva has caused enormous economic devastation across the entire island of Sri Lanka. The cyclone has demolished and submerged tens of thousands of houses in the floodwaters. Hundreds of tanks and lakes have burst. Paddy fields spanning several lakh acres have been submerged in the floods. An unquantifiable number of livestock have been washed away by the floods. It appears that it will take a very long time for Sri Lanka to recover from this damage and for the people to return to normal life.

In this context, it is a relief that the Indian Union Government has quickly stepped in and engaged in relief work. On behalf of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, I request that the Indian Government continues to provide assistance until the people return to normal life; and that the Indian government ensures that aid reaches even the affected small villages.