TN urges Centre to let humanitarian aid from state to crisis-hit Sri Lanka

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution urging the Centre to positively consider the state government’s request to immediately dispatch food and life-saving medicines to the economic-crisis hit Sri Lanka as CM M K Stalin stressed on the need for the state to extend humanitarian aid to the island republic on time.

The resolution, piloted by Stalin, was unanimously passed by the House, including the opposition AIADMK and the BJP. Interestingly, apart from extending support to the government resolution, Deputy Leader of the Opposition AIADMK O Panneerselvam pledged Rs 50 lakh in his personal capacity, to be extended as aid to Sri Lankan Tamils.

“We can’t see the development in Sri Lanka as the neighbouring country’s internal issue. We need to extend aid humanitarian aid...help should be prompt, on time,” the CM said moving the resolution. Recalling his meeting with PM Modi last month on the issue, Stalin said he followed it up with the EAM S Jaishankar but there has been no response from the Centre. (PTI)