"The Chinese people have given aid of 300 million rupees to Sri Lanka at its toughest time. The assistance is flowing from the heart of the Chinese people, so it cannot be measured by money!" Moulana, senior advisor to the Sri Lankan president, governor of the Western Province told the journalist at Colombo January 5th.

The Western Province of Sri Lanka has suffered the gravest loss in the tsunami. The Moulana family alone has lost 27 people and another 48 are still missing. "China has not only sent medical team and donation to us, but also decided to take part in reconstruction of Sri Lanka. I want to thank the Chinese government's unselfish assistance to Sri Lank on behalf of my families, including those died in the disaster." Moulana added.

Moulana described the tsunami as "a great calamity". At present more than 30,000 Sri Lankans have died and 16, 000 have been injured; 1 million people have lost their homes. Now they have to live in temples or 770 temporary tents. The total loss may amount to US$ 4.8 bln. "The Chinese people understand the damages the disaster has done to Sri Lanka as if they were here. In these days, China's government organs, companies, schools, factories, and people in streets have been donating for the disaster-stricken areas voluntarily. I cannot help shed tears every time I see the report," said Maoulana.

There are more than 40 foreign medial teams working in Sri Lanka. But only the Chinese medical team working at Hikkaduwa comes at the invitation of the Sri Lankan government. And it is also the only team greeted by the Sri Lankan Health Minister upon arrival at the airport in Colombo. China extended a helping hand to Sri Lanka when it was stricken by disaster, and the government of Sri Lanka thought of China first when it appealed for assistance. This fully shows China and Sri Lanka are "brother countries". The people in two countries are like one family.

Maoulana recalled that in 1952 China and Sri Lanka signed the well-known Trade Agreement on Rice and Rubber, according to which, China provided rice to Sri Lanka in exchange of rubber. The Former Sri Lankan PM Solomon Bandaranaike, father of the concurrent Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga, was very friendly to China. It is he who accomplished establishing diplomatic ties with China in 1957. In early 1960s, China provided large number of US dollars to Sri Lanka, which was suffering foreign exchange crisis even though China was in a difficult economic situation. At the time when the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conventions Centre was built with China's assistance, the former PM of Sri Lanka Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, mother of the concurrent Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga came to the construction site to work voluntarily. "The monuments of Sino-Sri Lankan friendship are seen everywhere, and the stories of the friendship is told everywhere in Sri Lanka," Moula proudly claimed.

"What is more, Sri Lanka has never felt unequal as it gets along with China despite the fact China is a vast country with long history and brilliant culture," added Maoulana. China initiated five principles for peaceful coexistence in international relations. This makes China unique in great powers and has set an example for the international community.

That China extending a helping hand to Sri Lanka has greatly encouraged the Sri Lankan people who are now in struggle with the disaster. The government and people of Sri Lanka are bound to overcome the disaster and rebuild their home with assistance from China and international community, Maoulana said firmly.

By People's Daily Online