Fourth gift consignment of medicines arrives from India

• 12.5 tons of medicine accompanied by High Commissioner-Designate Gopal Baglay

As a special friendly gesture from the Government and the people of India in the ongoing auspicious Vesak week, a 12.5 ton gift consignment of essential medicines and medical items arrived in Colombo yesterday on a special flight, the Indian High Commission said in a statement.

The gift consignment – the fourth in recent weeks – underscores the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enunciated in his video conference with SAARC leaders on 15 March, to jointly fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three consignments of essential life-saving medicines and medical gloves from India were handed over to Sri Lanka last month.

The fourth medical consignment reached Colombo with the High Commissioner-designate of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on board the same flight.

Soon after landing at BIA, the High Commissioner-designate conveyed greetings from the people of India to the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of Vesak. He also stated that the mission entrusted to him highlighted the very high significance of steadfast friendship, solidarity, and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka – two of the closest maritime neighbours in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region. 

He also stated that India’s continued commitment to share its resources with friends and partner nations even at a time when many countries the world over were facing scarcity of medical products, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent supply chain disruptions, was in line with the abiding faith of India’s leadership in the dictum of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ (the whole world is but one family).

The High Commissioner-designate assumed his duties while observing stipulated health protocol.