Death toll mounts as Sri Lanka mourns

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Sri Lanka's flag flew half mast Friday as the nation mourned some 30,000 victims of the tsunami that hit the eastern and southern coasts of the island nation, while heavy rains and strong wind hampered the relief work in most of the areas.

All New Year celebrations were cancelled as Sri Lankan rallied together to help some 1.2 million people, who are braving inclement weather in makeshift shelters along the obliterated coastline.

Addressing a public rally in the capital Colombo, President Chandrika Kumaratunga called upon the people to unite to deal with the disaster of mammoth proportions. "The natural disaster has not spared anyone. All communities have suffered and its time we all forget our differences and work together to rebuild the nation," she said.

The tsunami that hit the country Sunday has certainly brought about unity in the nation divided along political and ethnic lines. Most houses and vehicles had either white or black flags flying on top while vehicles. Even those living in the areas administered by the Tamil Tiger guerrillas joined the nation by putting up flags.

"We too are mourning," said Jagadesan, a resident of the northern Jaffna peninsula, which was once the citadel of the Tamil Tigers. "We are Sri Lankans and this country is mourning so we too mourn."

Burying their differences, the two major parties representing the majority Sinhala have come together. The leader of the opposition United National Party and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, attended the public rally and was the only other speaker to address the gathering. He too called for unity and tolerance.

The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have been criticizing the government for not sending adequate supplies to the areas administered by them in the north and east, have also decided to work with the government. A delegation of government officials met LTTE leaders and came to an agreement that the two sides will join hands in providing relief to the people.

President Kumaratunga has already said that the threat of war is remote. The head of LTTE's political wing Tamilselvam said the disaster would "definitely have a positive impact on the peace process as a whole". The two sides have agreed to launch a joint national relief program.

While visiting the eastern districts President Kumaratunga shook hands with two LTTE women cadres she found working in a community kitchen.

"The disaster is bringing the two sides together," said Ananda Samarasinge, a driver in the capital Colombo. "We all hope and pray that this country remains united and the ethnic problem is resolved."

In a major departure from it defiant stance the government has invited the LTTE to join the national task force set up to provide relief to the tsunami hit areas in the country. A letter was sent from the president's office asking LTTE political wing leader Tamilselvam to come on board as a member.

Aid has begun arriving in the LTTE held areas. A convoy of trucks led by famous Sri Lankan Cricketer Muthaiah Muralitharan reached Kilinochchi town, the political headquarters of the LTTE. A convoy of food sent by the U.N. has also arrived and the LTTE has taken charge of distribution.

But heavy rains have hampered the distribution of food and other relief items. A U.S. military plane carrying relief items including water arrived this morning. It would be handed over to the government for distribution. Another planeload of water and sanitation equipment sent by Oxfam International arrived from U.K. late in the night.

Oxfam International, one of the biggest aid agencies working in the country opened up a field office in southern Sri Lanka to coordinate aid supplied. "We are also transporting more supplies to the east and north, including sleeping mats, food, buckets, soap, matches and candles," said Malcolm Fleming spokesperson for Oxfam. "A priority is the distribution of clean water, which is essential if we are to stop the spread of disease. We have set up water tanks in many areas, whilst in the more isolated areas, where access is more difficult because the destruction of bridges, we are distributing bottled water."

Relief workers say that the biggest challenge before them is the distribution of medicines to prevent outbreak of epidemic. Another area of concern is revival of economic activity in the region.

President Kumaratunga said Thursday that the reconstruction would cost around $1 billion and she appealed to the international community to help the government rebuild Sri Lanka.