KARACHI, Jan 13: The consul general of Sri Lanka at Karachi, Manel De Silva, has expressed her profound gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan for their massive and timely support for victims of tsunami , which claimed over 31,000 lives and caused extensive devastation in the four Provinces of the country.

"Pakistanis are our friends and supported us all the way. We will never ever forget their support and sympathies for us for the past two weeks", said Ms De Silva while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.

She pointed out that the Sri Lankan consulate in Karachi was serving as a warehouse, and it was amazing to see the load of relief goods coming from the people, the NGOs and many other organizations and the same being shipped immediately to the country.

"We cannot express our feelings in words", Ms De Silva said, adding that she had first-hand experience of tsunami, as she happened to be in Colmbo when the devastating tides hit the country.

"We need your support today, tomorrow and day after tomorrow to help our people in gigantic rehabilitation task and make Sri Lanka to come back". She said already over 40 per cent hotels at affected beaches had started their normal operations.

She appealed to Pakistanis to help revive tourism in her country as it was mainly dependent on tourism. "We also need to think about the children, who have been rendered orphans, to help provide them with jobs and help them to look at their future", Ms De Silva added.

She hoped that Sri Lankan airline will restore its normal thrice-a-week flights, which had been cut down to twice a week as early as possible to meet the passenger load. "We are dependent on you and your support", She said.

Replying to a question, Ms De Silva said that Sri Lankan government was distributing aid items equally in all the provinces, including those under Tamil Nadu, and even LTTE had admitted that. -APP