26 January 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, which has diplomatic and consular jurisdiction over Sri Lanka, reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse received on 23 January 2005 the members of the Philippine medical-civic team who made a courtesy call prior to the completion of their humanitarian mission in the tsunami-ravaged parts of the country.

Ambassador Jose Lino B. Guerrero said that the Sri Lankan Prime Minister expressed sincere gratitude to the Philippine Government and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for sending the 12-member humanitarian mission.   The  Philippine contingent, which arrived in Sri Lanka on 06 January, was set to conclude its mission on 25 January 2005 and will return to the country within the next few days.

On Saturday, 22 January 2005, Ambassador Guerrero said various Sri Lanka-Philippines economic and friendship associations tendered a testimonial dinner for the Philippine contingent at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.  The Philippine medical-civic team was organized by the Department of Health and dispatched to Sri Lanka as part of the Philippines’ contribution to the international humanitarian effort mobilized in the aftermath of the tsunami catastrophe that hit South and Southeast Asia and even parts of Africa last year.

Dr. Amal Harsha Silva, representing the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health, attended the dinner in honor of the Philippine contingent.  Also among those present were Ms. Estella Pascua, adviser and immediate past president of the Association of Filipinos in Sri Lanka; Mr. Joe Allosius, president of the Sri Lanka-Philippines Friendship Association; Mr. Anada Samarasinghe, president of the Sri Lanka-Philippine Business Council; and Philippine Honorary Consul to Sri Lanka William John Terrence Perera.

Dr. Silva expressed his Government’s thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Secretary of Health Manuel M. Dayrit for sending the Philippine medical-civic team to Sri Lanka.  He also expressed appreciation to Consul a.h. Perera for facilitating the coordination between the Philippine contingent and the Sri Lanka Health Ministry.  Dr. Silva praised the yeoman service rendered by the Filipinos during Sri Lanka’s hour of need, saying that their service “will forever remain in the hearts of Sri Lankans.”

The Health Ministry representative added that reports from his Divisional Secretariats on the work rendered by the Filipinos impressed Sri Lanka Minister of Health Niletti Nimal Siripala de Silva, who was scheduled to meet the Philippine medical-civic team.

During the dinner, Mr. Allosius presented Dr. Romeo Almazán Bituin, leader of the Philippine contingent, with a plaque of appreciation depicting a fisherman at sea with the following citation: “Our sincere gratitude to the Philippine Department of Health for sending a 12-member humanitarian medical team to render service to Sri Lankan tsunami victims, from 06 to 25 January, 2005.”   Mr. Allosius also presented each member of the Philippine contingent with an adorned box of tea as a token of their appreciation. END
 

/jay