Chennai: Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a separate resolution moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin seeking permission from the Centre to provide assistance to Sri Lankans amid the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation.
Addressing Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday, Stalin said, "Despite political indifference with the island nation during different periods, Tamil Nadu government would like to extend support to the people of Sri Lanka who are affected by the economic crisis. It's saddening to see the state of people waiting for hours to get fuel, life-saving drugs, cylinders among others."
In this background, Tamil Nadu has decided to provide 40,000 tonnes of rice for Rs 80 crore, 137 live-saving drugs for Rs 28 crore and 500 kg milk power for Rs 15 crore, he said.
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"However, Tamil Nadu cannot separately provide all these assistance. Tamil Nadu should first get permission from Centre and distribute it only through Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka," he said adding, "Therefore, I’ve placed a demand regarding the same to PM, Union External Affairs Minister. Yet there’s no reply from them. Hence, we have decided to pass the resolution."
The Chief Minister also read out the resolution in the Assembly. The resolution said, "Amid the ongoing economic crisis to help the distressed Sri Lankans on a humanitarian basis, Tamil Nadu government is ready to provide rice, milk powder, pulses and live-saving drugs. The Centre should provide permission to Tamil Nadu. The state representatives have already written about it but TN has not received any response. Hence, the Centre should take steps to provide permission cutting across party lines in order to extend assistance to the needy."