Rajapaksa mourns Indian flood deaths

Mahinda-RajapaksaColombo, June 21 : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has mourned the large number of deaths and destruction to property in severe floods in northern India.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rajapaksa expressed condolences on account of the unprecedented natural calamity, particularly in Uttarakhand.

"The people of Sri Lanka and I are deeply saddened by the loss of life and property ... in Uttarakhand as well as parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," he said.

"We in Sri Lanka share the grief of the people of India at this time of grave distress.

"We are confident that the Indian government and the relevant authorities possess the strength and fortitude to work towards recovering from this unprecedented calamity.

"Our thoughts, at this difficult time, are with the families of those who lost their lives, those who were injured, and with those who have suffered damage to homes and property." (IANS)