Australia presented over 6,300 kilograms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Government on Thursday to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PPE was handed over to Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, Head of National Operation Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak.
At the handing over ceremony, Australian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Holly said: “Australia expresses solidarity with Sri Lanka as we both face the impacts of the global Covid-19 crisis together.
In particular, the Australian Department of Defence is pleased to support Sri Lanka’s Security Forces in their effort to counter Covid-19 by providing much needed equipment to protect those on the frontline in Sri Lanka”.
The PPE consisted of 16,500 high quality coveralls, 25,000 surgical face masks, 100,000 gloves manufactured in Sri Lanka by the Australian firm Ansell, 175 googles and 15 (25 litre) cool boxes to transport vaccines and will support Sri Lanka’s efforts to minimise further transmission of Covid-19. The Australian Government’s support to Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 response is now AUD 11.7 million (approx. LKR 1.8 billion) including support to the Ministry of Health to strengthen national laboratories, as well as providing crucial food and hygiene items to Sri Lankan communities.