Private sector to the fore in response to State Minister’s call

 HSBC CEO Mark Prothero hands over medical essentials to State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle in the presence of DMC DG Major General Sudantha Ransinghe and A-PAD SL Country Director Firzan Hashim at A-PAD Office

• Providing ventilators to COVID-19 treatment centres

In response to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, HSBC Sri Lanka donated Rs. 8 million worth of medical equipment including ventilators and oxygen machines to the health sector. The initiative was facilitated by A-PAD Sri Lanka and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in response to a request made by the Government in catering to identified medical needs of treatment centres in Gampaha District. 

As such, medical essentials were handed over to State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle by HSBC CEO Mark Prothero, in the presence of DMC Director General Major Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe, and A-PAD SL Country Director Firzan Hashim, at A-PAD Office.

HSBC, the largest international bank in Sri Lanka, has come forward on similar occasions in providing both corporate and community support in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Partnering with A-PAD Sri Lanka, the HSBC community relief program previously assisted the Government in a diverse array of support which took the forms of locally produced PPEs to frontline workers, disinfectants to lockdown communities and health workers, equipping a special care centre for pregnant mothers in Mulleriyawa, providing special medical coverall kits for military officers on medical duty as well as disinfectant sprays for local government/public sector offices. 

Additionally, this public-private partnership provided non-medical equipment and customised hygiene packs to COVID-19 treatment centres and quarantine centres earlier this year.

In total, HSBC has supported COVID-19 relief efforts by contributing Rs. 22 million worth of relief items towards this cause. 

A-PAD Sri Lanka is grateful to the banking corporation for fulfilling its corporate social responsibility in times of emergencies and is thankful to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) for extending its strength at all times.