Article Posted on : - May 19, 2009

Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft. A file photo

New Delhi (PTI): With the Sri Lankan army's offensive against LTTE almost over, India will send 25 tonnes of medicines worth over Rs 3 crores to help the internally displaced population in the northern parts of the island nation.

"An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft carrying about 25 tonnes of medicines is scheduled to leave Delhi for Colombo on May 22 (Friday).

This will be disbursed among the sick, wounded and internally displaced people in northern Sri Lanka," Defence Ministry officials said here on Monday.

In March this year, Indian Armed Forces had set up a fully equipped 50-bed hospital close to a relief camp at Pulmodai town on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast.

During its presence there, the 60-member Indian medical team, comprising specialists, surgeons and paediatricians, has treated over 3,000 people mainly war wounded, trauma and fractures, in the two months since the hospital came up.

The Sri Lankan government, officials said, has lauded the humanitarian work done by the team of Indian army doctors in the war-ravaged parts of the country.

After a request by Sri Lankan government, Indian armed forces will soon shift the field hospital to Manik Farms in Vavuniya to widen scope of the humanitarian assistance.

"A need was felt for including a gynaecologist in the team of doctors but experts said since the field hospital lacks specialized medical equipment and support staff, this would not be feasible at the moment," officials said.

A lady Medical Officer present in the team was handling women patients.