Sri Lanka to be first COVID-19 free country in South Asia – Basil Rajapaksa

11 February 2021, Colombo Sri Lanka: In the midst of challenging times, CHEC Port City Colombo donated a PCR testing machine and 5,000 PCR test kits worth over Rs. 20 million to the government , a statement from the project company said.  

On behalf of Mr. Jiang Houliang, Managing Director, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Yue Yeqing, Assistant Managing Director of CPCC handed over the equipment to Basil Rajapaksa, Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication.   

• Basil Rajapaksa appreciated the timely donation made by the Port City Colombo and handed over the PCR testing machine and test kits to the State Ministry of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention for immediate use

Also present at the occasion were State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Dhamma Schools, Pirivenas and Bhikkhu Education, Vijitha Berugoda, Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, Raja Edirisuriya, Executive Project Management Director for Port City Colombo, Ms. Yamuna Jayaratne, Director Sales & Marketing for Port City Colombo and  Kassapa Senarath, Head of Public Relations for Port City Colombo.   

Basil Rajapaksa appreciated the timely donation made by the Port City Colombo and handed over the PCR testing machine and test kits to the State Ministry of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention for immediate use. State Minister Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle stated that the PCR machine will be first installed in the Gampaha district to support and increase ongoing daily PCR testing. Basil Rajapaksa stated that the Government plans to vaccinate the entire nation for COVID-19 as per WHO standards and hopes to be recognised as a COVID-19 eradicated country.   

The statement said Port City Colombo representatives also took the opportunity to update Basil Rajapaksa about the present progress of the project. Basil Rajapaksa expressed his positive ambitions regarding the project to be a modern services and financial hub in South Asia with the introduction of the Special Economic Zone act in the near future. He was also confident about attracting FDIs to the country through the development of Port City Colombo this year.   

Over the past few months, Port City Colombo has donated protective gear to authorities on multiple occasions inclusive of a donation of 10,000 masks to the Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital, 2,000 masks to the Sri Lanka Customs and a donations worth Rs. 6 million to the Colombo Manning Wholesale Market, Sri Lanka Police, Kalutara Nagoda Hospital, Department of Information and the Ministry of Health.