Finnish Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2005, 11:07 GMT]
The Finnish Foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja is expected to arrive in Colombo Saturday 5 February to meet with the Sri Lanka Government officials to discuss long-term reconstruction and development programs, Sri Lanka Foreign ministry sources said.

As part of long term Finnish assistance in reconstruction of the tsunami ravaged regions, especially the east, the Finnish Red cross has sent a team to treat tsunami victims in the Eastern coast.

The Finnish medical team arrived on January 6th and have pledged long-term commitment till 2010 to develop the tsunami ravaged health system.

Finnish Red Cross team leader Heiki Estola said that they have treated 1400 patients since their arrival.

Mr Estola said: "We will provide health services until the health system until the system is brought back to normacly. Then we will close these clinics. At the moment, the emergency phase is over, and this is the integration phase, where the clinics are connected with the basis health system. Later we will come again to help the development of the health system itself."

The Finnish Red Cross has served in welfare camps from Potuvil to Kalmunai.