A section of Indian medical team. Pic Dharmasena Welipitiya

Appreciating India’s support for eradicating terrorism and strengthening Sri Lanka’s capacity to meet the emergency medical situation in the north, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said that India had been fully aware of the actual ground situation at the height of the conflict.

Speaking at a ceremony at Hotel Taj to felicitate Indian medical personnel, who had been involved in the humanitarian mission in the North, the minister said that their presence in the war zone-first at Pulmoddai and then at Menik farm had sent a clear signal to the international community. He said that Indians saw what Sri Lanka did and the difficult conditions under which the government of Sri Lanka had to handle the situation. With the help of India and other external sources, including INGOs, the government had been able to avert a catastrophe, he said.

A section of the international community and the Opposition had accused the government of denying them access to welfare centres.

According to de Silva Indians had operated under extremely difficult conditions though some Sri Lankan doctors had declined to move there even after the end of war unless they were provided with air conditioned rooms. He added that he had dismissed criticism of the deployment of Indian personnel without any formalities as their presence was urgently needed to extend facilities available for the displaced.

India this week terminated its medical mission and handed over 25 million Sri Lankan rupees worth medicine and medical supplies to Sri Lanka. This was in addition to SLR 100 million worth medicine and medical supplies used by the Indians during their deployment here.

Responding to The Island queries, Minister de Silva said that though they welcomed assistance provided by the international community and INGOs, Sri Lanka was capable of looking after the medical needs of the IDPs.

Referring to the chaos caused by over 250,000 people seeking refuge in and around Vavuniya in March-May period, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad said that any government would have found it a difficult situation. He said that India had shifted its medical mission to Menik farm from Pulmoddai in support of Sri Lanka’s efforts. He emphasised that India had offered medical assistance not due to any shortcoming on Sri Lanka’s part but as a true friend.

The Health Minister revealed that the deployment of Indian medical team had been done without any formal agreement. When India offered medical assistance, Sri Lanka had accepted it promptly and there had not been any delay in deploying the Indians in the East.

Alok Prasad said that theirs was a remarkable success story. They had been able to launch the mission within 72 hours by turning a dilapidated building belonging to the Mineral Sands Corporation into a medical facility. He said he was confident that the Sri Lankan experience would be beneficial to them and help them prepare for an emergency situation.