KLANG: Eleven containers of food, mineral water, clothing, blankets and medical supplies will be sent to Sri Lanka onboard MV China Star.

The first batch of 12 containers containing similar items left Westport on Friday for Colombo and should reach its destination today.

Westport had also sent 27 containers to various places in the Klang Valley to be filled with aid being coordinated by various relief agencies in the country.

The containers would then be taken back to Westport, where they would be loaded onto two vessels – MV CC Vitality and MV Amassis.

Westport, which also serves as a collection centre for aid for the tsunami victims, has waived all port handling and terminal charges to transport the containers to Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The terminal operator had joined forces with Starship Agencies Malaysia-Goldstar Line (Hong Kong), CMA-CGM (France), Excel Shipping and Logistics Sdn Bhd, haulage providers and other parties to channel and transport all donations and contributions collected throughout the country.

Three haulage firms – Kontainer Nasional, Diperdana and Konsortium Haulage – have agreed to provide free trucking for the containers to and from Westport.

Westport executive director Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam said they and their transport and logistics partners would forego all costs to help the tsunami victims, especially in Banda Acheh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

“Westport will continue to serve those in need. And at times like this, contributions from every individual and organisation is essential to those in dire need,” he added in a statement yesterday.

The Star, 5.1.2005