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Sri Lanka expatriates reach US Congress for military mobile medical units
The Sri Lankan expatriates in the United States, with their intense lobbying, have succeeded in getting the attention of prominent American Congressmen to the serious Covid virus situation in Sri Lanka to inform the U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken of the importance of installing temporary mobile medical units in critical districts in Sri Lanka.
The expatriates were well aware that the Biden administration in which secretary of state position holds a prominent Cabinet status could negotiate with the Secretary of Defense to get the US Pacific Command (USINPACCOM) to install these temporary mobile medical units to alleviate the situation to which the four US Congressmen in their direct communication to the secretary of state has seriously emphasised.
The socio-politically active Sri Lankan expatriates in the State of Nevada had been in close contact with these congressmen for a very long time to have direct dialogue about Sri Lankan situation and the necessity of getting the Biden administration to extend its helping hand toward Sri Lanka.
One of the signatories to the letter Congresswoman Dina Titus sits on the South Asia sub-committee of the House Foreign Relations Committee under whose purview foreign assistance program, terrorism and the promotion of U.S. trade exports come. She is also the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka. Congressman Frank Pollone, the other signatory was the founder of the Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Indian descent, maintains close rapport with Sri Lankan expatriates who willingly became a signatory to the appeal letter. The fourth signatory was Congressman Henry C. Johnson who belongs to the Black Caucus.
The constant rapport, discourses, engagement and frequent contact with the American lawmakers who now have working relations with the Biden-Harris administration, the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security became effectively possible due to the decades-long rapport by State of Nevada Democratic political activist Sanje Sedera who was responsible in mobilizing the Sri Lankan expatriates in the states of Nevada and California. His public affairs and public diplomacy skills brought dividends in mobilizing U.S. Congressmen to reach the US Department of State’s highest-ranking official, the Secretary.
This outreach to the American administration’s policymakers and congressional lawmakers – having had face-to-face dialogue initiated by Mr. Sedera and the group of Sri Lanka expatriates – succeeded in the increase of Covid virus vaccines donation to Sri Lanka last month. In May, these Nevada Sri Lankan expatriates launched a fund-raiser – which brought US$35,000 – to purchase medical equipment for Sri Lanka, a task executed by the North American Medical Association. In July, a group of Sri Lanka expatriates – associated with the Sri Lanka America Association of Las Vegas – launched a Sri Lanka America Chamber of Commerce under Mr. Sedera’s chairmanship to initiate trade and investment between the two nations, having Las Vegas the premier international convention center in mind.
Expert knowledge, connections and public affairs-diplomacy expertise that are found within the Sri Lankan community in the State of Nevada were put into full use in undertaking to make U.S. Congressmen aware of misinformation unleashed by pro-separatist elements within a section of the Sri Lankan Diaspora following the introduction of the May 18, 2021 US House Resolution 413 which disseminated false data and information about Sri Lanka. The expatriates undertook the task to lobby many US Congressmen – face-to-face and through several zoom meetings – in collaboration with the Sri Lanka’s diplomatic mission in Washington and the Consulate in Los Angeles with the sole objective of changing their mind-set infected by the false propaganda and misrepresentation about Sri Lanka. The final result of that endeavor was that the Resolution failed to enter the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The immediate task of the Sri Lankan expatriates is to get the good offices of the Departments of State and Defense to set up temporary mobile health units in vulnerable districts in Sri Lanka to combat the spread of the virus. The closest such assistance is available with the US Pacific Command.
The urgency of the situation was well depicted in the letter addressed to the US Secretary of State by the four leading Congressmen: “We request that the State Department rapidly increase medical assistance to Sri Lanka by specifically providing temporary mobile medical units in critical districts around the country to assist the health authorities in addressing the serious situation. In the past, the United States has provided critical assistance to Sri Lanka when the nation faced emergency situations and now during this critical hour, we must again take the lead to provide support in setting up vital medical units for a trusted and strategic partner”.
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Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO] to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola, Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna, Walapane, Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, signalled strong solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, confirming that it is actively exploring options to provide further support for recovery and resilience beyond the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, opened her remarks with heartfelt condolences:
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of Sri Lanka for the effects of the devastating cyclone. Our hearts mourn the loss of life that has taken place,” she said, extending condolences to other Asian nations also grappling with severe flooding, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
On Sri Lanka, Kozack emphasised that the IMF is closely engaging with authorities, development partners, and counterparts to assess the humanitarian, social, and economic toll of the disaster.
“Large parts of Sri Lanka have been affected by floods, and we expect economic activity to be adversely impacted, in addition to the significant human toll,” she noted.
The IMF is awaiting the completion of a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, led by Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with international partners, to better gauge the economic impact.
“We are continuing to support Sri Lanka’s recovery, reform, and resilience under the EFF arrangement. Our staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack confirmed.
She reiterated that the Board meeting, scheduled for 15 December, remains on track, following the staff-level agreement on the fifth review reached in October—prior to the cyclone.
“We will provide additional details as the assessment of economic needs and damages moves forward, and as we have more information to inform our thinking around the options,” she added.
Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir was sworn in as a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Member of Parliament before Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (05).
His appointment follows the resignation of SJB Parliamentarian Muhammathu Ismail Muththu Mohamed, who stepped down from his position on 28 November.
The SJB subsequently nominated Thahir to fill the resulting vacancy.
Accordingly, the Election Commission issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir a Member of Parliament, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, as amended by Section 6 of the Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 35 of 1988.
With the issuance of the gazette, and the subsequent swearing-in, Thahir has officially assumed duties as a National List MP, representing the SJB.
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Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP
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