Reckitt Benckiser helps secure safety of healthcare, military personnel fighting COVID-19

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva receiving donations from the Reckitt Benckiser Lanka team. Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Senior Manager – Projects Nilantha Gamini (right) and Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Product Group Manager – Dettol Tehan Samarasinha (2nd from right), represented the company

Providing much-needed strength to the Government in their effort to control the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, Reckitt Benckiser Lanka donated parcels containing hygiene products for the use of health professionals and military personnel at the forefront of the fight against the virus.

Together with Dettol handwash units, the company donated over 3,000 Dettol liquid handwash bottles, 50,000 litres of Dettol antiseptic disinfectant liquid, 120,000 litres of Lysol multipurpose cleaner and over 120,000 litres of Harpic toilet bowl cleaner towards the cause. The products were officially handed over to Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva by a team of representatives from Reckitt Benckiser recently. 

For generations, Reckitt Benckiser has been renowned as a company which has supplied a variety of brands close to Sri Lankan households. Some of these brands are Dettol, Harpic, Strepsils, Veet, Air Wick, Durex and Lysol. 

Speaking about the initiative, Reckitt Benckiser Sri Lanka Commercial Director Sinclair Cruse said, “At a time where there is a substantial risk of the entire country falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic and as a brand that is linked to hygiene, we are happy to be able to fulfil our responsibility to our country through this contribution. In the face of this unprecedented challenge, our healthcare workers and military personnel are working selflessly on the frontlines.  Therefore, it is very important to ensure their safety at this moment and we hope that our donation will support them in their efforts.”

Prior to this contribution, Dettol and Harpic pledged their support to the fight against COVID-19 through several other initiatives. Accordingly, bearing a significant cost Dettol, under their ‘Clean Hands, Clean Nation’ CSR campaign installed handwash units in central public locations such as the Fort, Maradana, Gampaha, Dematagoda and Veyangoda railway and bus stations, and hospitals such as the IDH, the Colombo National Hospital, the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, the Negombo General Hospital, the Ragama Teaching Hospital, the Marawila Hospital, the Mulleriyawa Hospital and the Anuradhapura Hospital.

Similarly, through their ‘Harpic Mission Wellbeing’ initiative Harpic joined forces with the Ministry of Health to install mobile toilet units at hospitals treating COVID-19 patients as well as COVID-19 tracking centres. Moreover, they teamed up with the Sri Lanka Army to renovate sanitation facilities at these locations. 

Expressing his views on the initiative, Reckitt Benckiser Sri Lanka Head of Marketing Shaminda Perera said, “Together with Dettol and Harpic, Reckitt Benckiser is well-known as a brand which has always regarded their responsibility towards society. During this decisive period, we are happy to be able to support the Sri Lankan Government using the full strength of our brands. Similarly, we pledge our commitment to this mission in the future as well.”