President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed deep empathy and concern at the ongoing Covid-19 situation in India in his letter of solidarity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 28, 2021.
The President said that concerted efforts of humanity have succeeded in overcoming such pandemics since time immemorial. He also expressed confidence that India will tackle the crisis effectively under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the support of dedicated experts and professionals.
In a very touching gesture, the President conveyed to Prime Minister Modi that the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka was planning to compassionately recite the Rathana Sutra for the people of India, a release from the Indian High commission in Colombo stated.
The empathetic gestures of the President and the Buddhist clergy reflect the depth and strength of the age-old and time-tested close relationship between India and Sri Lanka. The solidarity of Sri Lanka with India in the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic is gratefully appreciated by the leadership and the people of India. President Rajapaksa also expressed deep gratitude, on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, for the initial gift of 500,000 doses of made in India Covid-19 vaccines which enabled the Government to launch the first vaccination program, ahead of the original schedule. India and Sri Lanka have stood with each other in facing the enormous challenges posed by the Covid- 19 pandemic. Their cooperation in this regard befits their close and friendly relations and will continue to foster the well-being of their people’s as well as their fraternal and civilisational ties, the release added.