The Office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) announced today that he will visit the tsunami-ravaged countries of Sri Lanka and India this week. He is expected to meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and will visit Galle during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Senator Frist is traveling to get a first-hand account of the areas devastated by the tsunami and the plight of the people, especially children impacted by it. He also wants to observe US aid agencies in action to ensure American assistance is flowing as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Senator will hand over 150,000 pounds of Pedialyte (oral electrolyte maintenance solution), donated by Abbott Laboratories – Ross Product Division and arranged by the Limited Brands and flown free of charge by FedEx head quartered in Memphis, Tennessee to Sarvodaya to be distributed among people in tsunami affected areas. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C. has been instrumental in facilitating this shipment while MAS Holdings, a leading supplier to Victoria’s Secret has coordinated logistical arrangements in Sri Lanka.

Senator Frist has supported President Bush’s commitment in helping the needy in the tsunami hit region and stated that he looked forward to acting to support President’s efforts and any other necessary funding requests as a supplemental to the FY 2005 budget as quickly as feasible.

Dr. Frist, who was unanimously elected to the important position of Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate (108th Congress) in December 2002 has led a number of humanitarian assistance missions to Africa.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

04 January 2005