Sri Lanka donates 50,000 dollars to flood-hit Bihar

Colombo, Sept 17 : Sri Lanka has donated 50,000 dollars to Bihar for victims of the recent devastating floods in the State.

According to reports, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, Romesh Jayasinghe, handed over a cheque for the amount 50,000 dollars to Resident Commissioner of Bihar C K Mishra in New Delhi last week.

Jayasinghe, while handing over the cheque, stated that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing deep sorrow on the loss of lives and suffering caused by the severe floods.

"The people of Sri Lanka recall with deep appreciation the immediate and generous assistance offered by India during tsunami in December 2004," Jayasinghe added.

The flooding, the worst in 50 years, was caused after the Kosi River breached a dam in Nepal. This unleashed huge waves of water that smashed mud embankments downstream in Bihar state.

The waters of Kosi, known as Bihar's 'river of sorrow' for its regular floods and tendency to change course, gushed into the state inundating vast areas and affecting around two million people.

ANI