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FOC
Mata Amritanandamayi, popularly known as Amma, recently visited Sri Lanka to help the tsunami victims. The Hindu Sewa Sangam (HSS of Sri Lanka) and Hindu Ministry of Sri Lanka had jointly organised the visit. Amma was accompanied by 136 devotees including Shri Padmakumar, the South Tamil Nadu Prant Prachar Pramukh of RSS. On the first day Amma delivered a peace lecture in Amparai district and consoled the victims at the Gayathri relief camp, which is one among the 11 relief camps under the care of HSS. Amparai is the worst affected district in Sri Lanka and where more than 50,000 people have perished. Amma also distributed thousands of lungis and sarees in the relief camp. It is perhaps for the first time that any popular Indian saint has touched and consoled the common Sri Lankan who is, as it is, suffering due to the effects of the 20-year long civil war. Amma also visited the camp located at Komari. She announced a relief of Rs 3 crore to Sri Lanka. Amma also plans to build around 300 houses for the people now living in tents.
During the visit, Amma also met Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Shri Mahinda Rajapaksha, at his residence. Accompanied by the Prime Minister, she visited the affected areas and participated in a tsunami-relief programme. After the programme, Amma blessed the Sinhalese people on the stage and distributed sarees and lungis.
Amma then left by helicopter for Colombo to meet the President, Smt. Chandrika Kumara-tunga, who assured her government'scooperation in the rehabilitation project undertaken by the Mutt in Sri Lanka. (FOC)
