Korea to donate $ 500,000 worth of anti-COVID-19 items to Sri Lanka

• Move reinforces strong bilateral between Korea and Sri Lanka in 2021

The Government of the Republic of Korea has decided to provide humanitarian assistance worth of $ 500,000 to the Government in order to combat COVID-19 cases in the country, said Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong.

With the aim of strengthening public health cooperation between two countries, Korea will provide emergency medical items such as PCR test kits and PCR test machines to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic successfully. 

As the Government of the Republic of Korea recognises Sri Lanka as a key partner in South Asia, the Korean Government will continue to closely cooperate with Sri Lanka to contain COVID-19.

Under the ‘Stay Strong’ campaign between Korea and Sri Lanka initiated by the Korean Embassy last year, Korea has stood side by side with Sri Lanka in the hour of need to provide support to the public health system. 

On 8 December 2020, PCR test kits worth $ 300,000 were deployed to Sri Lanka as a gesture of goodwill. The Korean Embassy in Sri Lanka has also shown its gratitude by donating re-usable fabric masks to the Sri Lanka Army and Police who have dedicated themselves to protect people in Sri Lanka including the Korean residents amid COVID-19. These reusable masks were manufactured by a Sri Lankan social enterprise which empowers women. 

Furthermore, the Seoul Metropolitan Government provided anti-COVID face masks to its sister-municipality Colombo Municipal Council to deter COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.

Korean Ambassador Jeong said he was confident that Sri Lanka would display its resilience and strength as shown in previous instances, to overcome this global hardship and assured his unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka as a true friend for the benefit of the peoples in both countries.

“I firmly believe that Sri Lanka can use this pandemic as a stepping stone to make a wider leap. Our public health cooperation in these tough times is symbolic of the true friendship between our two countries. The Korean Government wishes to extend its fullest support and cooperation in coordinating the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The battle against COVID-19 should not be fought by countries singlehandedly since COVID-19 virus spread has transcended all borders and nations. A united global effort is required to create a robust response to defeat the pandemic. It is a mandate for all humankind to cooperate globally to overcome this unprecedented challenge. The Republic of Korea stands in solidarity and friendship with Sri Lanka to control the spread of COVID-19.