Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, Ms. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake visited Adana on 16th February 2023 to receive the first donation form the government of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, a consignment of tea organized by the Sri Lanka Tea Board which came via Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and then to Adana. Adana has become a hub for distribution of emergency cargo coming from all over the world. Adana too was affected by the earthquake.

The said donation was first made to the Turkish Embassy in Colombo and upon arrival of the consignment in Adana; Ambassador Dissanayake received the same together with the Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in the Mediterranean Region, Mr. Beşir Uğur in the presence of  Mr. Ozkan Durmaz, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara to Mr. Vehbi Kaplan, the AFAD representative in Adana.

Ambassador called on H.E. Zeydan Karalar, Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality and expressed her heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka over the tragic loss of lives, injuries and devastation caused by a series of earthquakes in Türkiye on 6th February 2023.

The Mayor of Adana thanked the Ambassador for visiting Adana to receive the first donation of 1500 kg of Ceylon tea donated by the Government of Sri Lanka to the affected victims in affected areas which are being distributed to affected people.

Further, the Mayor also appreciated the role of Mr. Beşir Uğur, Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka for the Mediterranean Region, for donating over 80,000 kg from his company BETA teas to the affected victims.

Mr. Beşir Uğur, founded the BETA tea company in Türkiye in 1985 and in 1987 he opened an office in Sri Lanka, and is considered as the pioneering Turkish business enterprise to enter Sri Lanka.  BETA tea is a leading tea company that make Ceylon tea known in Türkiye and several other surrounding countries in Central Asia and Russia where they export teas.

Ambassador also visited his tea packaging plant in outskirts of the Adana city.

 

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Ankara

16th February 2023