Canada pledges long-term support

 
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday offered his country's maximum support for the reconstruction process of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster and the rehabilitation of the victims.

Addressing the media following a tour of Ampara, one of the areas worst affected by the tsunami, Prime Minister Martin said that an immense task lay ahead in the reconstruction effort to overcome the devastation suffered by the country.
"During my visit I came across men, women and children who had lost everything they had. Beyond this physical destruction is the loss of livelihood and more importantly the mental devastation or trauma caused by the disaster. We want to make it clear that reconstruction is not only physical and Canada will be here to do what we can as long as it takes," he said.

The Premier also said that Canada hoped to play an important role in ensuring the welfare of Sri Lankan children affected by the disaster. "The international community including Canada has the responsibility to help these children who have gone through a terrible experience. Education is going to be very important in this respect especially in view of the destruction caused to schools," he added.

The Canadian Prime Minister who visited Thailand on Sunday said he was not prepared to witness a devastation of such magnitude as in Sri Lanka. "The difference between yesterday (16th) and today was significant. Although we came across devastation in Thailand as well, where we visited today the local community had faced the full force of the tsunami of which the consequences were simply scary.
I was certainly not prepared to walk among those streets and houses simply flattened by the waves and see the mass graves where the dead were buried," the Prime Minister said.
 
 
 
 
  Premier Martin said that he will also hold discussions with members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in order to ensure the equitable distribution of aid given by Canada.

"At the same time I will raise questions about rumors on recruitment of child soldiers by the LTTE and pass the message that it is not acceptable to Canada or to the international community," he said.
He further stated that under the United Nations Convention Canada will not allow terrorist organizations to raise funds even for humanitarian purposes.

Responding to a query by the media as to how long Canadian relief missions will assist Sri Lanka he said: "We will be here for a long time and a long time to come."