Chinese guidebook on COVID-19 translated and launched with free access

Wednesday, 5 August 2020 02:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director Luxman Siriwardena handing over a copy of guide book to Chief Guests Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Lakshmi Somatunge

Embassy Chargé d'affaires Hu Wei handing over a copy of guide book to Education Ministry Additional Secretary Anusha Fernando

Acting Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Hu Wei

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Pathfinder Foundation this week jointly launched the Sinhalese translation of “Prevention and Control of COVID-19”, a world-renowned guidebook with detailed practical measures, edited by Professor Zhang Wenhong, Head of the Shanghai Medical Treatment Experts Group.

In the launching ceremony, Embassy Chargé d’affaires Hu Wei, together with former Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director Luxman Siriwardena handed over the oven-hot guide books to Chief Guests Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Lakshmi Somatunge and Education Ministry Additional Secretary Anusha Fernando.

Siriwardena thanked the Chinese partners for the free authorisation of copyrights on the original book, and extended his confidence on a new height of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries after the pandemic. Dr. Lakshmi Somatunge highly praised the long-term collaboration between the health departments of Sri Lanka and China, and appreciated the continuous support including medical supplies donation and anti-coronavirus experience sharing provided by the oriental country. The Additional Secretary also appreciated the valuable and practical guidelines with scenario-based strategies provided by the editor of the book.

In addition, Acting President of Sri Lanka-China Society Jinith De Silva, and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Managing Director Zhang Xiaoqiang also shared with the audience their stories on people-to-people diplomacy and the social responsibility of Chinese enterprises during the pandemic time.

Concluding the ceremony, the Chinese envoy showed his gratitude to the remarkable efforts of the Pathfinder Foundation team on translation and publication of this book. Highlighting the mutual support and solidarity during the pandemic, Hu Wei reiterated the commitment from the Chinese side to work together with Sri Lanka fighting this dangerous disease, with a new proposal to reprint about 8,000 copies for all the medical workers in the country.