Coca-Cola donates 16,800 PCR test kits and 17,000 Viral Transport Media

Handover to The Teaching Hospital – Kandy, from left: SLRCS Kandy Branch Executive Officer Ananda Uyanwatte, Department of Animal Production and Health Additional Director General Dr. Sarath Hettiarachchi, SLRCS Director General Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara, National Hospital Kandy Consultant Urologist Dr. M.R.V. Muthugala and National Hospital Kandy Director Dr. R.M.S.K. Rathnayake 

• Timely and useful initiative for Ministry of Health’s urgent response to new COVID-19 cluster

In view of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka, Coca-Cola’s donation of 16,800 PCR test kits and 17,000 Viral Transport Media (VTM) to support the Government in conducting urgently required COVID-19 testing in the country together with implementing partner Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) will prove critically useful and timely. 

The stock of PCR test kits and VTM were handed over between late August and September to the Government health care institutions including the Medical Research Institute (MRI) – Borella, The Teaching Hospital – Kandy, The Teaching Hospital – Karapitiya and The Teaching Hospital – Ragama, thereby strengthening their capacity to respond to the pandemic.  Coca-Cola’s donation of PCR test kits and VTM will support the Ministry of Health in identifying those contracted with COVID-19 and in traceability to ensure that necessary precautions are undertaken and to curb the rapid community spread of the virus.

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. Director, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Lakshan Madurasinghe said: “Following the very unfortunate emergence of the Minuwangoda cluster of coronavirus cases, we are grateful that our recent donation of 16,800 PCR test kits and 17,000 VTM to Government hospitals will prove of great use in testing and tracing these cases to limit the outbreak. We are thankful to our implementing partner, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and The Coca-Cola Foundation for the provision of funds which enabled us to reach out to key government hospitals and the vulnerable sections of society.” Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Director General Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara said: “The Sri Lanka Red Cross is pleased to partner Coca-Cola in implementing its donation of 16,800 PCR test kits and 17,000 VTM for use by health professionals in government hospitals at the time of a crisis where the nation is currently experiencing a spike in local cases of the virus.”

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka had pledged a contribution of Rs. 130 million to strengthen the national health response to minimise and combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pledge has supported the Ministry of Health (MoH) to cater to its most immediate needs including COVID-19 testing kits and VTM. 

The pledge also witnessed distribution of packs containing essential food, sanitary items and first aid to over 6,000 families, donation of beverages and raising awareness on COVID-19 prevention measures and basic first aid amongst marginalised sections of society during the lockdown period.  

Handover to The Teaching Hospital – Karapitiya, from left: SLRCS Galle Branch Executive Officer Iresha Madurangani, SLRCS NHQ Head of Operations Pramudith Rupasinghe, SLRCS Vice President and SLRCS Galle Branch Chairman Upali Sirimanne, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Lakshan Madurasinghe, Consultant Virologist and Senior MTL Dr. Nayomi Danthanarayana, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Nishani Ubesekara, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Harshani Ubesekara and Senior Oncosurgeon Dr. Krishantha Perera

Handover to The Teaching Hospital – Ragama, from left: Medical Laboratory Technician Prithimala Samaranayaka, Consultant Microbiologist Dananja Namali, Ragama Hospital Deputy Director B.H.S. Premasiri, SLRCS Gampaha Branch Chairman Anton Victoria, SLRCS Gampaha Branch Secretary Nayana Kumara Perera and Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Director Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Lakshan Madurasinghe

Handover to the Medical Research Institute (MRI), from left: MRI Director Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Lakshan Madurasinghe, Colombo Branch Executive Officer Kumari Kothalawala and SLRCS Colombo Branch Chairman Rukshan Peiris