Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims of earthquake that struck China on May 12, the Sri Lankan government said Friday.

In his letter to the Chinese President Hu Jintao, Rajapaksa said "I was deeply saddened to hear of the death and destruction caused by the earthquake that struck western China on May 12."

"Having gone through the fury of nature ourselves in 2004 December due to the unprecedented tsunami that struck our country, the government and the people of Sri Lanka extend their sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims of this calamity.

"At this hour of grief, the sincere thoughts and prayers of the people of Sri Lanka are with the people of China. I wish a speedy recovery to those who are injured.

"I am confident that the immediate relief and rehabilitation work undertaken by the government of China under your leadership will alleviate the sufferings of the affected people and enable them to recover in the shortest possible time," the letter said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2008)