As Sri Lanka is facing a spike in COVID-19 positive cases the medical burden faced by the Government of the country has worsened. Upfield Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., the company behind Astra and Flora in Sri Lanka and the largest plant-based company in the world, has stepped up its efforts in providing immediate support by donating 10 (ten) units of fully electric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds to the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) via the Sri Lankan Army - Seva Vanitha Unit, on 17^th May 2021. The donation was handed over to the Head of National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defense Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva by Head of Business and Customer Development Director of Upfield Lanka, Anuruddha Aluvihare in the presence of representatives from Upfield and NOCPCO. Through this initiative, Upfield hopes to support the government’s efforts in managing the limitation of ICU beds in national hospitals and quarantine centers across the country.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 Upfield Lanka initiated multiple programmes toward assisting Sri Lanka manage the prevailing situation while also supporting communities that were economically affected as a result of the pandemic.

During lockdown last year Upfield Lanka supported the Disaster Management Centre by donating over 5,000 kilograms of Astra and Flora to help provide the right nutrition at the quarantine centers for COVID patients.

In February of 2021, in a bid to empower women during this tough time, especially mothers across Sri Lanka, Astra launched ‘Astra Diriya Wanitha’ in collaboration with the Samurdhi programme to equip women to start baking businesses. To this day the initiative has provided certificates to over 750 graduates within the Western Province and hopes to create 14,000 home bakers by the end of 2023.

With children at the heart of Astra, over 200 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were also donated and distributed through the Ministry of Education zonal officials for exam invigilators during the recent Ordinary Level examinations in 2020, to ensure safety conduct of the examinations.

Upfield Lanka, as a responsible organization with over 55 years of local roots in the country with Astra; is dedicated to support and create many more such initiatives to help revive the country for its citizens.