China on Wednesday donated its third batch of medical aid to Sri Lanka to help the country fight the COVID-19 epidemic to control and prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Hu Wei, Chargé d 'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka handed over the third batch of donation to the Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Pavithra Wanniarachchi Wednesday (24) at the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health. Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Health was also present at the occasion.

The medical aid, included 30,000 PCR testing kits, 30,000 disposable coveralls, 30,000 medical protective face masks, 600,000 surgical masks, and 30,000 medical goggles.

Hu Wei said in his speech that in the six months since the end of December last year, all countries in the world have jointly experienced the severe challenge of the new coronavirus pandemic and in the fight against the COVID-19, Sri Lanka and China have successfully brought the pandemic under control with the leadership, disciplines and unity of the people.

He said China and Sri Lanka have successfully controlled the epidemic and achieved outstanding results that have attracted worldwide attention.

“China and Sri Lanka supported each other and helped all sectors of society to help each other, far beyond the separation of nationalities, religions and classes, and wrote a touching chapter,” the envoy said adding that no single country can win on its own and the most powerful weapons are not money, equipment, GDP, etc but it is solidarity and cooperation.

“We also firmly support international cooperation, support WHO to play a key role, and oppose any form of politicization, stigmatization and unilateralism. In the great battle against the epidemic, Sino-Sri Lankan relations have been further sublimated.”

Minister Wanniarachchi said that the friendship between Sri Lanka and China has a long history. When China first faced an epidemic, the whole country gave the Chinese government and people firm support through various means. After the outbreak of the epidemic in Sri Lanka, China not only selflessly shared the experience of anti-epidemic measures, but also donated a large amount of medical materials through governments, enterprises and individuals at all levels to provide the most urgently needed help.

“It is particularly worth mentioning that the Chinese side is strict in self-discipline and actively cooperates with the Sri Lankan side to carry out prevention and control through the embassy in Sri Lanka. None of the nearly 2,000 confirmed cases in Sri Lanka has been infected by China,” the Minister noted.

“Today, on behalf of President Gotabaya and the Sri Lankan government, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government and people for their valuable assistance. I also express my heartfelt thanks to the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka for fighting with us on the front line of the fight against epidemics.”

"Sri Lanka will never forget the assistance provided by China and the help we have received," she added.

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