A SPECIAL friendship is hoped to be forged between people in the Folkestone and Hythe area and Sri Lanka in the wake of the tsunami.

Some 20 years after local MP Michael Howard brought together church and civic leaders to co-ordinate help for those suffering through the Ethiopian famine, he was at the Holy Trinity vicarage in Folkestone exploring the possibility of adopting an area of the country devastated by the waves and providing practical assistance.

The rapidly-assembled collection of community chiefs echoed the feelings of the people they represent with heartfelt statements, all united in the fact the Shepway district should be involved in the long term.

The idea is that Shepway is twinned with a Sri Lankan province with schools linking up with schools, places of worship with places of worship, even cricket teams with cricket teams.

Engineers, builders, electricians, medics - anyone with a beneficial skills that can be deployed with good effect will be invited to join in with the effort. Young people with time between school and university could travel there and help.

Sri Lankan children could be brought to Shepway for a holiday.

And anyone supporting what has been named the Shepway Committee for Tsunami Relief will be able to see where and how their money is being spent.

Mr Howard said: "This is about building lasting relationships. Matching people in our locality with people in a community in one of the affected areas and offering expertise, care and support to make a real difference, not just to the Sri Lankans, but to the people in our area."

The next step is for Mr Howard to approach the Local Government Association who, in turn, will speak to Sri Lankan government representatives about the plan.