The government of the Republic of Korea has decided to provide humanitarian assistance worth of $ 500,000 to the government of Sri Lanka in order to combat COVID-19 cases in the country, said the Korean Ambassador, Santhush Woonjin JEONG.
With the aim of strengthening the 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 the 8th of December 2020, PCR Test Kits worth of USD 300,000 were deployed to Sri Lanka as a gesture of goodwill. Also, the Korean Embassy in Sri Lanka has shown its thankfulness 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 re-usable masks were manufactured by a Sri Lankan social enterprise which empowers women. Furthermore, the Seoul Metropolitan Government provided Anti-COVID face masks to their sister-municipality Colombo Municipal Council deter COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.
The Korean Ambassador, Santhush Woonjin JEONG is confident that Sri Lanka will display its resilience and strength as shown in previous instances, to overcome this global hardship. Ambassador Santhush 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,” he said.
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 Korea stands in solidarity and friendship with Sri Lanka to control the spread of COVID-19.
