Sakti Foundation To Send Humanitarian Assistance To Sri Lanka

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Yayasan Sakti, with the cooperation of the Prime Minister's Department, will be sending humanitarian assistance to victims of Sri Lanka's 30-year civil war which ended two years ago. Its director and Makkal Sakthi Malaysia president R.S. Thanenthiran said 30 people comprising engineers, doctors and volunteers were undergoing training on the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the five-day mission. "We hope to collect RM2 million (US$627,844) (US$1=RM3.19) from Malaysians to give to about 5,000 Sri Lankans," he said when met at the Bernama headquarters, here, Tuesday. Thanenthiran said the civil war victims were in need of assistance to generate income. "They need resources such as dairy cows to support themselves and their families, wells to obtain clean water, generator sets for electricity and educational assistance," he added. Thanenthiran said six members of the foundation had gone to see the living conditions of the affected residents in Jaffna, Mannar, Vawunia, Kilinochi and Mullai Tahive in Sri Lanka on Oct 22. "A Sri Lankan member of parliament accompanied us on the trip and we found that safety was poor. However, security specialists and the Sri Lankan government will help ensure safety throughout the humanitarian aid mission," he said. He added that MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek had contributed RM30,000 in support of the humanitarian aid mission. Members of the public who wish to contribute to the effort can send their contributions to CIMB account number 07051156929056 under The Trustees of Yayasan Sakti Incorporated Registered, or contact Yayasan Sakti secretary S.Sutager at 012-6158174 for more information. The foundation will also hold a charity concert, Natchathira Thiruvizha, at Dewan Lip Seang Kor, Sungai Petani, Kedah this Friday, Putra World Trade Centre's (PWTC) Dewan Merdeka, here on Saturday and Sekolah Menengah Yuk Choy (SUWA) in Ipoh, Perak on Sunday. -- BERNAMA Malaysia