Sri Lanka is witnessing the largest relief and rehabilitation activities in the wake of the Tsunami waves that caused immense destruction to lives and property on 26 December 2004.
From the day the disaster struck on 26 December, the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) has been reaching out to the LTTE Peace Secretariat through the assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to ascertain the essential items required for urgent humanitarian relief.
On 27 December, the Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat, Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala conveyed the offer of Government assistance to Mr. S. Puleedevan, Secretary General of the LTTE Peace Secretariat.
Further, on 28 December, the Government’s offer to render all possible assistance to the people of the North and the East, without discrimination, was conveyed in a letter sent by the Secretary to President, Mr. W.J.S Karunaratne to Mr. S.P Tamilselvan, Head of the LTTE Political Division. “ All Government services are available for deployment in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts in the same manner as for all other affected parts of our country,” the letter says.
He also invited the LTTE to participate in a high-level coordinating committee that President Kumaratunga has established to ensure prompt and effective delivery of relief services.
The Government’s offer of assistance to the LTTE in disaster relief has also been conveyed to Kilinochchi by His Excellency, Hans Brattskar, Ambassdor of Norway.