Sri Lanka is one of the countries worst hit by earthquake and tsunami on the Indian Ocean. On January 12, People's Daily reporter Chen Yiming in the capital of the country had an interview respectively with Sri Lanka President Madame Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse on questions regarding disaster relief to and reconstruction of Sri Lanka, aid from China and the international community to Colombo as well as the establishment of a disaster early warning system.

Madame Kumaratunga said that the Sri Lanka people thank the Chinese government and people very much for their disinterested assistance extended after the country was hit by tsunami. "Here I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the Chinese government and people through you Chinese reporter." China is among the first countries that extended their helping hands after the occurrence of tsunami on December 26. China's shipments of relief materials and dispatch of medical teams are of great help to the country's relief work.

She added that China is a trustworthy friend of the Sri Lanka government and people for it always gives a helping hand when Sri Lanka is in the greatest need, she expressed her belief that Sri Lanka-China friendship is sure to move forward without letup.

The Chinese government has provided Sri Lanka with batches of emergency aid materials after the occurrence of tsunami, said Rajapakse, adding that he had had talks with Wu Dawei, Chinese vice-foreign minister and head of the Chinese government investigation and condolence delegation to disaster-afflicted countries. During the talks the Chinese government pledged further support according to tsunami-affected nations' needs. It is learned that soon after their arrival in the severely afflicted areas in south Sri Lanka, the Chinese medical teams selflessly plunged themselves into the action of salvaging local disaster victims, and their work proves to be highly effective.

He said he wanted to take this opportunity of interview to once again express his thanks to the Chinese government and people not only for China's disinterested assistance to the Sri Lanka government and people after the occurrence of tsunami, but also for its longstanding, consistent support. In fact, he continued, "Chinese friends always provide us with timely help when Sri Lanka is in the hardest time, the present relief action taken by the Chinese side is only the latest case among many moving instances."

The tsunami attack this time has indeed caused huge human casualties and property loss, leaving more than 30,000 dead, thousands still missing and over a million homeless. When the calamity happened, our President Madame Kumaratunga was on her visit to London, but she immediately got in contact with me and gave her instructions on relief work, said the Prime Minister.

On the very day the disaster happened, he added, our government set up a relief headquarters to coordinate nationwide efforts. The primary problem facing us is to settle a large number of refugees and in a very short period of time we set up hundreds of centers for refugees to provide shelters for homeless people. Soon we will kick off a reconstruction campaign, this includes helping the victims to build their new houses, and gradually rebuilding public facilities such as roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, with relevant reconstruction plans being busily formulated.

Tourism is an important industry of Sri Lanka, so is its fishery industry, both sectors were seriously damaged by the tsunami. At present, insurance companies are busily assessing damage and are engaged in the settlement of claims, and the government will give full support to the reconstruction of hotels and restaurants in affected areas, so that the country's heavily mauled tourism can be brought back to normal as soon as possible, about which we are fully confident.

Rajapakse said in conclusion: The suggestion and efforts made by the Chinese government are very important and timely, because we badly need a monitoring and early warning system against earthquakes and tsunamis. The disaster this time shows the extreme importance of such a mechanism. In the past such a system was established only in the Pacific Ocean, now it's time to give attention to the establishment of one such mechanism in the Indian Ocean area. The Chinese government was the first to suggest helping neighboring countries to set up such a system and to decide to hold a symposium on this question in Beijing. We are deeply grateful for that.

The article, carried on the third page of the People's Daily, January 13, is translated by People's Daily Online