With thanks to the Asian Tribune

All three chapters of the Maha Sanga have appealed for urgent assistance from the public to help the people of Myanmar affected by the recent cyclone which caused severe destruction to life and property.

A special committee consisting of Aggamahapanditha Kotugoda Dammawasa anunayaka, Ittapana Dammalankara, Brahmanawatte Sivalee, Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana, Maduluwawe Sobitha, Muruttetuwe Anannda, Daranagama Kusaladamma and Thiniyawala Palitha theros had been appointed to collect donations and coordinate relief efforts with relevant authorities.

There may be well over many thousand dead and many thousands of people displaced in the Delta area. With 95 per cent of buildings in this Delta region demolished. Yangon Division, Ayeyawaddy (Irrawady) Division, Bago Division, Mon State and Kayin State are the most affected areas.

Aggamahapanditha Kotugoda Dammawasa Anunayaka Thero, said that Sri Lanka and Myanmar are Buddhist countries with a long standing friendship and we should extend our hand to people of Myanmar.

All three chapters of the Maha Sanga appealed from the Buddhist and General public to donate dry instant foods, drinking water and new clothes as contributions at this time of disaster. The committee has opened up the following centers to collect donations. Nagadeepa Viharaya, Baseline Road, Dematagoda, Sri Naga Viharaya, Kotte, Abayaramaya Narahenpita and Sambodi viharaya.

Milinda Moragoda Minister of Tourism discussed with several international agencies for assistance and the Government of Norway agreed to bear the full freight cost of twenty tones of dry items to be air lifted to Myanmar.