A non-governmental friendship organization of China has donated 40,000 US dollars to the severely tsunami-hit countries and asked some friendly organizations of the disaster countries to convey its regards, said head of the organization Chen Haosu in Beijing Saturday.

In an interview with Xinhua, Chen, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), said although the sum of money is limited, it passed on their sincere hope that people in the disaster areas can tide over the difficulty as soon as possible.

While the earthquake-triggered tsunamis hit some southeast and south Asian countries last Sunday, Chen was heading a delegation on a visit to Sri Lanka, one of the severely stricken countries.

Chen said his delegation was in the middle part of the country and did not suffer from the tsunami. "After we returned to Colombo,we found all the news reports were telling the disaster situation,and the death toll kept increasing rapidly. We felt greatly painful while lots of people there lived in misery," Chen said.

"As friends of the people of Sri Lanka, we should give them firm support and help in adversity," Chen said.

He said he decided at the moment to donate 10,000 US dollars toSri Lanka, and sent a condolence letter to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse.

Immediately after the tsunami happened on Sunday, the CPAFFC requested some friendly organizations in the disaster countries such as the Thailand-China Friendship Association and the Indonesia-China Association to convey its condolences.

Upon Chen's return Thursday, the CPAFFC decided to donate to other tsunami-hit countries besides Sri Lanka, such as Indonesia, Thailand and India.

Chen said officials of the CPAFFC warmly donated to those countries as well.

"It is a time that we show our support for and friendship with the disaster-hit countries," he said, expressing his hope again that people there can get over the difficulty at an early date.

Source: Xinhua