Standard Chartered Sri Lanka recently donated essential medical equipment worth over USD 116,500 (approximately LKR 23.6 million) to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) as a continuation of its commitment to support Sri Lanka’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The donation was made up of two parts: The SLRCS received USD 75,000 for the procurement of crucial COVID-19 response equipment, including 3 ICU ventilators as well as Pulse Oximeters and Nebulisers, which will be distributed to treat the rising number of COVID-19 affected patients at the General and National Hospitals in the Western Province. The Bank also donated 25 Oxygen Concentrators worth approximately USD 41,500 to the Ministry of Health (MOH) via the SLRCS. The donation was symbolically presented to the Hon. State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals in the presence of officials from Standard Chartered and the SLRCS.

Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka said, “Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka has been contributing in various ways to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country. As a responsible corporate entity, we will continue such COVID relief efforts to help bring stability to the country’s health sector and pave the way for a faster economic recovery.”

Through the Standard Chartered Group’s COVID-19 Global Charitable Fund, which was launched last year, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka previously donated a total of USD 500,000 to the SLRCS for the procurement of approximately 13,000 COVID-19 testing kits as well as to support emergency relief activities that targeted the control and containment of coronavirus, precaution against infection, and public awareness to combat misinformation on COVID-19.

Anuk De Silva, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka said, “In keeping with our brand promise to be Here for good, it’s important for us to be a part of the ongoing efforts in protecting our communities and our country in the face of this pandemic. To that end, we are gratified to be supporting the many initiatives of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.”

The Standard Chartered Group has further been assisting companies producing essential equipment to tackle COVID-19 with a not-for-profit financing commitment of USD 1 billion. As of today, multiple businesses in Sri Lanka have been able to complete over USD 45 million worth of drawdowns to expand their manufacturing capacity of PPE such as medical and protective gloves and face masks, as well as switch to produce and export essential PPE supplies overseas.

Hon. (Prof.) Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals symbolically accepting the donation from Bingumal Thewarathanthri, CEO, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka in the presence of Ministry, Red Cross and Standard Chartered officials.

In the presence of (left to right), Yehiya Kamal, Manager – Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, Renuka Nonis, Country Head of Property, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, Anuk De Silva, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, Dr. R. M. S. K. Rathnayake, Secretary to the State Ministry of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Asanka Maithri Rathna, Director Planning to the State Ministry of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Aruna Lekamge, Deputy Director General, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Madhava De Alwis, Assistant Manager – Infection Prevention, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.