India to send emergency medical unit to Sri Lanka

New Delhi, Feb 26 : India Thursday said it would send a full-fledged emergency medical unit to help civilians wounded in the conflict in Sri Lanka and work with Colombo to spur reconstruction process in that country.

"India and Sri Lanka have agreed to work together to address the urgent medical needs of these civilians," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said in a statement here.

"In this connection, India will immediately send a full-fledged emergency medical unit with hospital to Sri Lanka," he said.

This emergency medical unit will comprise doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and support staff and necessary medical equipment and supplies.

"This would be augmented further depending on the requirement," the spokesperson added.

"India will also work with the government of Sri Lanka in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in the northern and eastern Sri Lanka."

The decision to send emergency medical assistance came after New Delhi discussed with Colombo ways to help the civilians caught in the conflict between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Thousands of civilians remain trapped in a small chunk of territory still held by the LTTE. Early this week, Colombo turned down an appeal for a ceasefire by the Tamil Tigers.