Turkey delivers aid to mudslide-stricken Sri Lanka

ANKARA

The Turkish Red Crescent has delivered emergency supplies to Sri Lanka, which has been hit by floods and landslides caused by heavy rain since last week.

In a statement issued Monday, Turkey’s largest humanitarian organization said that tents, blankets and solar kits were delivered Sunday to Sri Lankan officials.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony in capital Colombo, Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa thanked Turkey for its “meaningful” help, which he said was sent a time when the latter was already hosting over 3 million refugees, the statement said.

Yapa recalled that the Turkish Red Crescent had built 250 homes in the country in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, and said Sri Lankan people could never forget Turkey.

Turkey’s ambassador to Colombo, Tunca Ozcuhadar, for his part, said that Turkey shared Sri Lanka’s pain, and the relief materials would be delivered to the victims as soon as possible.

The massive landslides triggered by torrential rain killed at least 92 people, with 109 people reported missing, according to the country's Disaster Management Centre.

The landslides also left more than 185,000 people homeless. They are being housed in temporary shelters.