The Indonesian Government donated 3.1 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, consisting of essential medicines and medical equipment valued at Rs. 517.5 million (approx. US $ 1.6 million) last week. It was the first batch of such medical aid received by Sri Lanka, in response to a request by Health Minister Channa Jayasumana.
Due to the current forex crisis Sri Lanka was facing a shortage of essential drugs in hospitals countrywide.
The Government of Indonesia in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the representative office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Indonesia, worked with Health officials and the pharmaceutical industry of Indonesia, to facilitate humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, a media release from the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
Indonesia’s Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing met Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry on April 27 to brief on the Humanitarian Aid from the Government of Indonesia.
The Ambassador said the medicine would reach Sri Lanka in two batches, with the first shipment on Thursday (28) on SriLankan Airlines from Jakarta. The balance is expected on May 8, 2022.
The Ambassador informed the Minister that following the appeal from the Ministry of Health, Indonesian officials and pharmaceutical and health care industry marshalled together in ten days to donate items to ensure the speedy dispatch of aid and in view of its long standing close friendship, were pleased to support Sri Lanka at its time of need.
Foreign Minister Peiris conveyed to the Ambassador the deep appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka to the generous donation and highlighted that it was a clear manifestation of the close ties of friendship between the two countries.
The Minister also said he looked forward to welcoming his Indonesian counterpart later in the year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka.