Govt. to import 300,000 litres of medical oxygen weekly

• Dr. Pathirana assures adequate stocks in the country to treat COVID patients
• Govt. expresses gratitude to India for facilitating speedy delivery of 140 tons of oxygen

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the importation of 300,000 litres of liquid medical oxygen weekly, to treat COVID-19 patients.

“It was decided to increase the import quantity of liquid medical oxygen to 300,000 litres a week instead of the previously approved 120,000 litres per month, as the number of COVID-19 patients depending on oxygen has escalated during the past few weeks,” Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said at the post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday.

The approval to import 120,000 litres of oxygen per month was given at the 24 May Cabinet meeting whilst last week separate approval was given to import 360,000 litres per month.

Dr. Pathirana also assured that there are sufficient stocks of medical oxygen in the country to treat COVID-19 patients.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dulles Alahapperuma expressed gratitude to India and its people on behalf of the Government for facilitating the speedy delivery of 140 tons of liquid medical oxygen to Sri Lanka.

“This act of kindness further strengthened our longstanding friendship in this need of the hour,” he added.

India has been extending its support to Sri Lanka in the battle against COVID-19 in multiple ways on an ongoing basis through the supply of essential medical items and vaccines as well.