Now under a Covid-19 induced lockdown and desperately seeking international assistance to meet a possible severe oxygen supply shortage, Sri Lanka has received around 140 tons of medical oxygen from India.

The medical oxygen consignments reached Colombo Port in two shipments.

Indian Navy Ship INS Shakti, carrying 100 tons of medical-grade liquid oxygen, arrived in Colombo Port on Sunday evening, the Sri Lanka Navy said.

Sri Lanka Naval Ship SLNS Shakthi, with approximately 40 tons of medical-grade oxygen from India arrived at the port of Colombo on Sunday midnight, the Sri Lanka Navy Media Unit said.

INS Shakti, a 175m long fleet tanker, rushed to Sri Lanka following a request made from Sri Lanka Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

The vessel left the Visakhapatnam Port in India on August 19.

The visiting ship was welcomed adhering to COVID-19 protocols in effect, at the port of Colombo by Sri Lanka Navy.

Meanwhile, SLNS Shakthi left the Trincomalee harbor for the port of Chennai, India on  August 17, and made a port call in Chennai the next day.

The ship began its journey back to Colombo on August 20 with the shipment of medical-grade oxygen amounting to approximately 40 tons.

Upon unloading the containers of oxygen at Colombo harbor, SLNS Shakthi is scheduled to sail to the port of Chennai again on August 24 for another shipment of medical-grade oxygen.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne to seek out arrangements to swiftly transport medical grade oxygen, ordered from India, for the treatment of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, ColomboPage reported.

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Sri Lanka is now under a 10-day lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) experts have warned that the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the country would spike by mid-October.

(SAM)