Corporates rush to “Adopt an Ambulance” drive to boost healthcare service

Thursday, 6 April 2023 01:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Suwa Seriya 1990’ launches Rs. 1 b funding appeal to maintain 297 ambulances at Rs. 5 m each per year
A total of 105 companies pledge their support committing Rs. 550 m
At present the 297 ambulances rush over 1,000 Sri Lankans daily free-of-charge to hospitals countrywide

By Darshana Abayasingha

The Sri Lankan business community stepped up to show the citizenry it cares, when 105 companies pledged support to ‘Suwa Seriya’ 1990’s ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ initiative.

With Government revenue falling, the state sector has struggled State Sector the Suwa Seriya service over the past three years.

With ‘Adopt an Ambulance’, companies were provided the opportunity to pledge Rs. 5 million per ambulance per annum to support the maintenance of vehicles, healthcare equipment and staff requirements to ensure continuity of this essential service.

The shortage of funding had caused numerous difficulties, and the ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ program will significantly improve the service, whilst also providing continuous training to its staff. Suwa Seriya was launched in 2016 as a donation from India, and with 297 ambulances over 1,000 Sri Lankans are rushed free of charge to hospitals daily, in rural Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, 1990 Suwaseriya Foundation Chairman Dumindra Ratnayaka said: “We were hit with a continuous shortfall of funds from the state since 2020, and we were struggling to maintain services. With the advent of the current economic crisis, we thought we should now reach out to the private sector, and I am proud that 105 companies have pledged their support, and that’s Rs. 550 million committed at the outset. This is a significant show of appreciation by the corporate sector to the Sri Lankan public, and it must be noted that 1990 is an integral part of primary healthcare in this country, and it is appreciated immensely by people in the villages.”

Ratnayake said Suwa Seriya will look at a crowdsourcing platform to raise further funds, whilst SMEs and other donors who would like to contribute to the Adopt an Ambulance service would also be provided an opportunity to pledge. He was confident Suwa Seriya could reach Rs. 1 billion in funding for ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ in a short space of time.

John Keells Holdings committed Rs. 100 million and adopted 20 ambulances, whilst Sampath Bank, Dilmah, AMW, MAS Holdings, Dialog, Brandix, Hemas, CIC, Sunshine Holdings and CBL were amongst other donors.