India sending doctors, medicines to Lanka today

(May 22, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) With the war in Sri Lanka over, India is setting up a hospital in a Tamil-dominated northern part of the country for which it will send on Friday a team of doctors along with a large consignment of medicines.

The 100-bed hospital is being set up in Vavuniya, which was recently liberated from LTTE, sources told PTI here.

For the hospital, India will send eight doctors tomorrow along with 30 tonnes of medicines to cater to internally- displaced Tamils, they said.

About two dozen Indian doctors are already in Sri Lanka.

The relief material is a part of Rs 500-crore package prepared by India for relief and rehabilitation of the Tamils displaced by the war.

After the halt in military operations, Sri Lanka needs to immediately undertake relief and rehabilitation measures for civilian Tamils affected by the 26-year war so that they can return to their homes, sources said.

To de-mine the areas freed from LTTE control and make these safe for civilians, two expert teams are being sent in addition to the one already in Sri Lanka.

-Sri Lanka Guardian