Under the ‘Stay Strong’ campaign, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Santhush Woonjin Jeong, at a ceremony held in the Foreign Ministry on October 4, 2021, handed over a donation of USD 500,000 which includes PCR test kits and PCR test machines to the Sri Lankan government.
Ambassador Santhush expressed his thankfulness towards the Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka for organizing a wonderful event for the donation and highly appreciated the close anti-COVID cooperation with State Minister, Prof. Channa Jayasumana and the Health Ministry.
Prior to the handing over ceremony, Ambassador Santhush and the State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana engaged in a short meeting. Hon. Prof. Channa Jayasumana was grateful to the Korean Government and the Korean Embassy for the generous contribution to support COVID-19 response efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka.
This donation is significant of Korea’s continuing commitment to promote the bilateral public health cooperation with Sri Lanka. This goodwill gesture will undoubtedly be remembered and valued forever by the people of Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Santhush appreciated the close public health collaboration between Korea and Sri Lanka. He mentioned since his arrival in Sri Lanka last July, Korea and Sri Lanka have been strengthening anti-COVID collaboration with each other.
While commending Sri Lanka for the effective national response to contain COVID-19, he emphasized the importance of mutual public health cooperation between Korea and Sri Lanka as part of the global effort to combat COVID-19.
Ambassador Santhush assured his unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka as a true friend for the benefit of the peoples in both countries. He stated, “The Korean Government wishes to extend its fullest support and cooperation in coordinating the response to the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage extended his sincere gratitude to Korean Ambassador Santhush for the friendship shared by Korea with Sri Lanka and thanked the Government of Korea and Korean Embassy in Sri Lanka for the continued assistance in the battle against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.
Under the Stay Strong campaign, in partnership with UNICEF, the Korean government handed over USD 230,000 worth of anti-COVID-19 face masks to the Ministry of Health in July.
Last year, Korea donated PCR-test kits amounting to the sum of USD 300,000. The Korean Government has increased its support to Sri Lanka by donating emergency medical items such as PCR test kits and PCR test machines amounting to the sum of USD 500,000 to combat COVID-19 this year.
Secretary of the State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Dr. R. M. S. K. Rathnayake; Director General of the East Asia Division of the Foreign Ministry, Rohana Ambagolla; senior officials of the Foreign Ministry, Health Ministry and the Embassy of Republic of Korea including Ms. Lim Miyeon, First Secretary were present at the event.
