President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in telephone conversation with the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his empathy to Australians as they battle one of the worst bushfires in history. Bushfires in Australia at this time of the year are quite a natural occurrence. However, the extent of the damage and the rage of the fires this year are quite severe and have already claimed the lives of over 30 Australians – including lives of rescue workers. It is feared that lives of half a billion animals being affected is a conservative estimate.