Colombo, May 27 (newsin.asia): The Acting Indian High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob handed over a consignment of drugs and other medical supplies donated by the Government of India to the Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella in Colombo on May 27.
The consignment which weighs more than 25 tons is valued at close to SLR 260 million (USD 733,000).
Janaka Chandragupta, Secretary Ministry of Health also attended the event.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Gharial, a 5600 tons Landing Ship, was deployed for the delivery of humanitarian assistance materials expeditiously as part of Mission SAGAR IX.
In addition to medical supplies, the ship also carried onboard kerosene for the use of fishermen in Sri Lanka. The consignment of kerosene shall be distributed among the beneficiaries by the Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation in the coming days.
The medical consignment was donated in response to requests by various organizations and hospitals spread across different parts of Sri Lanka. It may be recalled that the representatives of Suwaseriya Foundation and Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha De Silva had highlighted their medical requirements to the External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar during his visit to Sri Lanka in March 2022.These requirements are now being met through the donation. In addition, medical supplies to the General Hospital at Hambantota, the Teaching Hospital at Peradeniya and the Teaching Hospital at Jaffna, are also being catered to.
Another large consignment of medical supplies for use by the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, was earlier delivered on board INS Gharial on 29 April 2022.
These humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the Government of India’s ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply etc. These efforts testify to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy which places people-to-people engagement at its core.
These are complemented by the people of India who have also been donating generously to their brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. The ongoing commitment to the people of Sri Lanka attests to the importance attached by the peoples of India and Sri Lanka for the well-being of each other.
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