Tuesday, January 18 2005 11:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: India stepped up emergency supplies to Sri Lanka affected by the devastating tidal wave with more donations of rations, medicines along with relief support by medical and military personnel and offered help in its reconstruction efforts.

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao yesterday (Jan 17, 2005) handed over some 130 tonnes of fresh supplies to the Island nation's Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva aboard the Indian coastguard vessel Sutlej and said New Delhi was ready to offer more assistance to them survivors of the Tsunami disaster.

India was awaiting details from Sri Lanka about its reconstruction needs, she told reporters after the simple ceremony, adding, "Our competence in construction and infrastructure sectors is well known in Sri Lanka. We are awaiting the details from the Sri Lankan Government."

She said that India would be scaling back some of the medical teams as the requirement was reduced but there would be more work for coastal clearing teams that will help in the cleaning up of debris.

Over the weekend, she had visited the eastern Ampara district, the worst hit along the Island's coast, to deliver the latest aid consignment including generators, clothing and dry rations.

Rao conducted an aerial survey of the area, a statement from the Indian High Commission in Colombo said, adding that she later spoke to displaced people and discussed their immediate needs.