(Lanka-e-News- 25.April.2015, 10.15) Following the earthquake that rocked Nepal (after a period of 80 years) of the magnitude of about 7.9 on the Richter scale , 970 have died and 1700 have sustained injuries, based on reports .
When Lanka e news contacted the Sri Lankan (SL) high commission in Nepal ,the spokesperson there revealed the people in Katmandu are safe, and there are no reports of Sri Lankan casualties living there . About the SL students in the medical College in Pokara , inquiries made regarding them have revealed they are safe, she added.
Answering our queries in regard to the SL media personnel who have sought political asylum in Katmandu , the spokesperson said , they too are safe, and there are no reports of any untoward incidents. Nevertheless , garnering information has become difficult because the telephone services , power supply and therefore e mail, internet services are interrupted , the SL high commission spokesperson pointed out.
Communicating by phone from Landon too was difficult and was accomplished with great difficulty ; within a short time it was disrupted.
Meanwhile , it is reported based on local reports that two SL air crafts of the Air force are heading for Nepal to fetch the Lankans who are experiencing difficulties. According to Nepal government information, facilities have been made available to the Sri Lankans to leave if they arrive at the airport there with their passports so that the SLAF aircrafts can fly them back to SL.
Just a while ago the BBC London announced that the Katmandu airport is closed.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe issues the statement as follows
The Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps to provide emergency relief to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal.
Immediately after hearing about the tragedy His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena and the Hon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe discussed the issue and decided to provide relief. To this end a special committee headed by their two respective secretaries was set up.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe informed his Nepali counterpart that President Sirisena had decided to offer whatever help was possible to alleviate the suffering of those affected. He also expressed the sorrow of the Government and people of Sri Lanka at the plight of the victims.
The Prime Minister also spoke with the Acting Ambassador of Nepal in Sri Lanka and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal to obtain information about the urgent needs of the Nepali people. Accordingly an Air Force plane will leave for Nepal at 2.00 am tomorrow (26th) carrying four doctors, other medical staff and medicines. They are due to arrive in Katmandu at 7.00 am.
In addition a Sri Lankan Airlines flight carrying dry rations and other essential items will also leave for Katmandu tomorrow afternoon. Arrangements have been made to bring back Sri Lankans including students currently in Nepal in the return flight.
The photographs depict the gravity and magnitude of the earthquake.
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by (2015-04-25 17:10:13)
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