CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin announced on Tuesday that in the first phase, the government will send rice, milk powder, and life-saving medications to Sri Lanka. He also pleaded with the public to donate money to the cause. Stalin said the state will soon send 40,000 tonnes of food, 500 tonnes of milk powder, and life-saving pharmaceuticals to Sri Lanka, which is suffering from a terrible economic crisis, with the permission of the BJP-led federal government. The Chief Minister also urged people to give on a humanitarian basis so that essential supplies may be purchased and shipped to the island nation. Stalin had previously requested that the Centre allow the state to ship essentials, such as food grains, vegetables, and medicines, from the Thoothukudi port to Tamils in the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka, as well as those working in the plantations, who were suffering from the severe crisis. Stalin lauds Jaishankar 'for accepting Tamil Nadu's request' to help Srilanka Tamil Nadu cabinet: Udayanidhi Stalin likely to be inducted Severe heatweave to Sweep in Tamil Nadu in coming days: IMD