Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Sri Lanka’s economy is in disarray, plagued by multiple calamities. Thereby the International Community is hyperaware and hyperconscious of the happenings in Sri Lanka, giving a helping hand to swim out of the troubled waters. However, the international community solely cannot bail out Sri Lanka from the current economic crisis. Therefore the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has linked with the private sector of Sri Lanka and is looking forward to addressing the health and food crisis. 

UNDP in Sri Lanka has leveraged its experience to develop a giving facility compromising two mechanisms: first, by channelling the private sector funds towards procuring essential and non-essential medical supplies and addressing food security; and second, by channelling individual donations through a crowd funding mechanism set up by the UNDP. 
Accordingly, UNDP –led private sector giving was launched on Thursday (23). Critical private sector actors, including Hemas Holdings PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Brandix Apparel Limited and Daraz Sri Lanka, have come forward to pledge their commitment through the facility to complement and strengthen the ongoing health sector efforts of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and food sector efforts led and coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) among others. 

Sarvodaya, the United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and oDoc Sri Lanka will also come on board as Strategic Partners of the facility. 
Speaking at the launch event held Ms Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka, stated, “Now is the time for the private sector to show solidarity and prove what we have known all along - investing in prevention is good for business. The private sector has played a major role whenever Sri Lanka expects a helping hand. Sri Lanka, when in crisis, always comes together, and this is one avenue. Therefore, we call on you to urgently support the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan to provide life-saving assistance to the most affected by the crisis and thus prevent deterioration of humanitarian needs in the country,” she added. 

She further said that Sri Lanka has not been vulnerable to this extent even when the war was prevailing. However, she underlined that 5.7 million people require humanitarian assistance. “Humanitarian intervention can create immediate business opportunities, and prevention of a crisis always affects business positively. Therefore, what we invest now will only reap us the future benefits. Thus we need a collective alliance. She added that what we pass now will only be moments in history; we will overcome this with solidarity and alliance. “

Reiterating the crucial importance of inter-agency collaboration for crisis relief, Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, stated, “Sri Lanka will rise again as businesses, individuals, local and international agencies work together with the government to ease the pain our nation is suffering. Circumstances demand that we all act with the kindness and empathy Sri Lankans are known for. With this mindset, we will face the present and future crises with strength. Unity is the key, and the private sector will collaborate with the government to deliver the best. 
He added that every country would have its own challenges; therefore, it is important to pass these challenging times confidently. “The rich will not survive, but the adapter will survive; thus, we need strategies. No doubt Sri Lanka is resilient,”  he opined. 

"The UNDP has linked with the private sector of Sri Lanka and is looking forward to addressing the health and food crisis"

Highlighting the critical role the private sector has historically played in humanitarian efforts, especially in times of crisis, Ms. Kasthuri Chellaraja Wilson, Executive Director, Group CEO, Hemas Holdings PLC, mentioned that as Sri Lanka navigates its worst economic crisis, Hemas remains committed to supporting our people and our country. “Being the leader in Pharmaceuticals, we are committed to supporting the most impacted vulnerable communities and enabling access to medicines. Our partnership with UNDP is in line with these efforts, and we will focus on providing essential and near essential medicine to communities across the island.”
She added that an economic crisis would create further inequality between the haves and have-nots, and the gap will only be further heightened. She said that Hemas is a domestic market-oriented company; thus, the vulnerable communities must get the best during these unprecedented times. 

Speaking on the importance of addressing the need of the hour, Ms Natasha Boralessa, Group Director, Brandix Apparel Limited, stated, “The Inspired People of Brandix pledge our commitment to thoughtful solutions to the food security challenges we face as a nation. Through our Manusathkara initiative, we have already uplifted the lives of our employees and the communities in which we operate with our Model Village programmes across Sri Lanka, and with this partnership with UNDP, we will infuse much-needed inputs for short and medium-term relief assistance to restoring seasonal agricultural cycles. Our efforts will create immediate impact to tackle the challenges at hand and also drive positive, sustainable change.”

Speaking on mobilizing the private sector beyond Sri Lanka, Mr Rakhil Fernando, Managing Director, Daraz Sri Lanka, stated, “Given the country’s development to middle-income status, mobilizing funds from beyond Sri Lanka will be challenging, but a concerted effort with international organizations like the UNDP to raise awareness of Sri Lanka’s humanitarian crisis among the global community is an important first step. We need to work to start the required conversations, explore all possible options and leverage our technology, markets, networks and resources to mobilize private sector funds outside of Sri Lanka.”

Reiterating UNDP’s convening role in the facility, Ms. Malin Herwig, Officer in Charge, UNDP in Sri Lanka, stated, “The giving facility will provide vital health and food sector support, liaising closely with relevant partners on procuring and delivering based on clear requirements, in strict compliance with UNDP’s globally renowned procurement guidelines. UNDP through its overall response efforts towards Sri Lanka’s recovery has leveraged its prior experience and strong relationship with the private sector to kickstart this facility, and looks forward to engaging with further private sector actors in working closely with fellow UN agencies, committed to empowering and strengthening vulnerable communities.”
Mr Vimalendra Sharan, Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Food and Agriculture organization, underlined that the private sector not only comes with funding but also with innovations, creativity, technology and their own sciences. Therefore the private sector can play a pivotal role in bailing out Sri Lanka from the current crisis. He also pointed out that the private sector beholds advanced strategies than any government authority. 

Dr Anver Hamdani, Director of Medical Technical Services, coordinator in charge for Covid-19, Ministry of Health, opined that Sri Lanka had success over COVID-19 and we will also overcome the economic crisis with much hope. However, he also elaborated that any assistance that reaches Sri Lanka via the World Bank, IMF or any other credit lines must undergo Standard Procurement Processes, which need their own time to get liquidized. Therefore the private sector giving bridges the timely gap that Sri Lanka faces at the current moment. In addition, he underlined that the government sector is ready to accept the giving of the private sector, which can solve the crisis by at least up to 25%. 
The individual crowdfunding facility will be launched in the coming weeks, provides the opportunity for individuals to contribute towards alleviating the impacts of the crisis, not only through addressing shortages in the healthcare sector but also by contributing to strengthening food security and other response measures in Sri Lanka.