China offers USD 2.2 mn worth of relief goods to Sri Lanka

China today offered USD 2.2 million worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka for its flood relief efforts as the death toll in the country's worst torrential rains since 2003 climbed to 193.
The relief supplies include tents, blankets which Sri Lanka is in urgent need of. The goods will be sent as soon as possible, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
President Xi Jinping, in a message of condolences to his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena, expressed sympathy to those stricken by the disaster and the families of the victims, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
At least three Chinese ships will reach Sri Lanka in a few days.

China and Sri Lanka are traditional friendly neighbours, and the Chinese people feel the same as the Sri Lankan people when they suffer in the disasters, Xi said.
The Chinese government is willing to exert all efforts to support the Sri Lankan government in its disaster relief work, and offer support and assistance to the Sri Lankan side, Xi added.

Many countries have joined rescue efforts in Sri Lanka's flood-hit regions as the death toll climbed today to 193.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the adverse weather condition had left 112 people injured.
Nearly 600,000 people have been forced to abandon their houses, with thousands suffering structural damage from flood inundation and landslides, it said.