Saturday, January 1 2005 20:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India and Sri Lanka are considering the possibility of jointly setting up an early warning system to deal with possible recurrence of tsunami-like disasters.

"Our entire region does not have an early warning system. I was talking to the Indian Prime Minister on phone. We are all very determined to set that up very fast," Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga told a private TV.

"We have to share the tragedy", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Sri Lankan President while offering the island nation Rs 100 crore financial aid for the tsunami-hit areas.

Singh's response came during a telephonic conversation on Thursday (Dec 30, 2004) with Kumaratunga who wanted to know whether India could do so at this point of time when the country itself was affected by the tidal waves.

"I want to thank the Government of India for the magnificent support they have given us very early when India itself was struggling with the same problem as us," she said.

India was the first country to help Sri Lanka after tsunami disaster, she said.

Kumaratunga said she and Singh have been in regular contact with each other.

Kumaratunga said she had asked for support from the US Government and UN. "It involves a lot of money. It can serve the entire region," she said.

As part of its assistance, India has sent to Colombo two Russian-built Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft carrying medical supplies.