India hands over relief consignment for civilians in Lanka

India has handed over a consignment of medicines to the Sri Lankan government as part of its efforts to ameliorate the sufferings of civilians affected by the ongoing offensive in the northern region.

India has handed over a consignment of medicines to the Sri Lankan government as part of its efforts to ameliorate the sufferings of civilians affected by the ongoing offensive in the northern region.

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The consignment is a part of a package of assistance announced earlier by New Delhi to aid civilians in the war zone, an official statement said on Tuesday.

"The entire consignment valued at approximately SLR 20 million (Rs 8.5 million) will be handed over to Sri Lankan authorities by the end of this week," it said.

A portion of the consignment was handed over by to the Minister of Healthcare an Nutrition, Nimal Siripala de Silva, by Indian Deputy High Commissioner Vikram Misri in Colombo on Monday.

"The Government of India hopes that the assistance will help in ameliorating the sufferings of the people affected by the ongoing conflict," the statement said.

Sri Lankan government has said that it is on the threshold of "final elimination" of the Tamil Tigers, and ending the 25-year old conflict that has claimed more than 70,000 lives.