Colombo: The arrival of a ship from India with 1700 tonnes of food and other relief materials for the displaced Tamil civilians caught in the war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army in the island nation's embattled north is likely to further boost distribution of relief.

The consignment which arrived here yesterday will go through the process of customs and other formalities before being dispatched to the north. The Indian assistance is the first of its kind in nearly two decades, though New Delhi provided medical and other assistance to Sri Lanka after the 2004 devastating tsunami that killed thousands of people.

The officials of Red Cross, the main coordinating agency for the supplies, however, said that they had not yet received possession of these material for distribution.

The Tamil Nadu government has arranged family packs containing food and non-food items including clothes and hygiene products for the civilians who have been displaced in the intensified clashes.

When contacted, Sri Lankan officials said the government was already dispatching enough quantity of food items such as rice, pulses and other edibles besides basic requirement and that these additional supplies from India will further facilitate relief measures.

The worst hit is Kilinochchi, where the troops have reportedly captured several areas in the LTTE stronghold leaving hundreds of civilians displaced due to the war.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen said all efforts are on to provide relief measures for the IDPs.

Source : PTI