Project ‘O2Life’ to help fight COVID

• Fundraiser by Lions International District 306 C1, Ceylon College of Physicians and Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine
• Targets Rs. 3 billion to donate 11,000 bed units

Lions International District 306 C1, the Ceylon College of Physicians and the Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine have jointly launched the project ‘O2Life,’ designed to support efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka and mitigate the tremendous loss of lives on a daily basis. The project target is to raise funds in the range of Rs. 3 billion in order to donate 11,000 bed units.

“This project was initiated following several discussions by Lions with the consultants who are in charge of COVID-19 patients in 191 hospitals across the country. One high priority was to advance the treatment facilities in Government hospitals for COVID-19 patients who are oxygen dependent. Along with our partners Lions of District 306 C1 decided to shoulder these efforts and combine contributions from well-wishers of civil society,” said Lion Jagath Wickramanayake, President’s Counsel, the co-chair of the ‘O2Life’ Committee of the Lions International District 306 C1.

Addressing the press briefing to mark the launch of the project, Wickramanayake said the project was tailored to address the dire need of two types of bed units categorised as ‘Type A’ and ‘Type B’ for COVID-19 patients needing external oxygen supply. “Adhering to the health sector requirements, the project will prioritise 3,102 bed units in category ‘Type A’ and 7,870 bed units in ‘Type B’ category and 159 in the ‘Oxygen Manifolds’ category. 

Wickramanayake said Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, Ministry of Health Secretary Major General Dr. S.H. Munasinghe and Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane had extended their fullest support to this project.

Speaking at the launch Lion Amal Pussellage, Professor Senaka Rajapaksa, President of the Ceylon College of Physicians, and Dr. Harsha Sathischandra emphasised that this collective effort of civil society would be a great strength for the efforts made by many parties including medical professionals in facing COVID-19 in the country.

Project O2Life Co-Chair Professor Ananda Jayawardane explained the high transparency maintained in every process attached to O2Life: “The internationally-renowned audit firm Ernst and Young agreeing to become the independent auditors of the project makes it our victory.”

A committee consisting of recognised veteran members from the Lions International District 306 C1 together with representatives from both the College of Physicians and the College of Internal Medicine has been established for technical evaluation of the equipment that will be procured. The Procurement Committee Chairman of the multiple District 306 of Lions will be Lion Pasquel.

The project’s main committee is chaired by Lion Jagath Wickramanayake, PC and past President of the Colombo Law Society, and co-chaired by Lion Professor Ananda Jayawardane, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa and the Deputy Chairman of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC.

They called on society to make a collective effort to ensure the success of this important fundraiser.