Sri Lanka is planning to deploy disaster relief teams to Nepal within the next few days to assist flood-affected communities, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara says.
He said the government has decided to send relief teams comprising members of the Sri Lankan security forces to support relief operations in areas affected by the floods in Nepal.
Speaking to the media in Anuradhapura, Deputy Minister Jayasekara said preparations are also underway to provide US$1 million in financial assistance to Nepal on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government.
He said the Defence Ministry, together with the National Disaster Management Relief Centre, is currently assessing Nepal’s requirements and planning the composition and deployment of the relief teams.
The number of personnel and the specific types of relief teams to be deployed have not yet been finalized, he added.
The Deputy Minister said arrangements are expected to be made within the next few days, emphasizing that Sri Lanka, as a neighbouring South Asian country, is responding sensitively to Nepal’s situation.
