<b>Chavakachcheri resembles Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Dr. Jayawardene </b>

T.Sabaratnam

Colombo July 30: In an unprecedented show of goodwill, Sri Lankan army yesterday donated to its bitter enemy the LTTE, 100 of the 250 wheelchairs it received as a gift from Japan.

Army spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne who handed the wheelchairs to Rehabilitation Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene said: This goodwill gesture will deepen and widen the understanding developing between the government and the LTTE.

“The two adversaries are getting to know and understand each other. These wheelchairs would propel that process,” he said.

Dr. Jayawardene who undertook to hand over the wheelchairs to the LTTE, requested Japan to help to rebuild Chavakachcheri that, was devastated by the war.

“Chavakachcheri resembles Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the cities destroyed during the Second World War. You have experience in rebuilding those cities. You must help to rebuild Chavakachcheri,” Dr. Jayawaedene told the Japanese envoy, who gifted the wheelchairs to the army.

Japanese ambassador said that, he would take up the request with his government and indicated that the response would be positive.