COLOMBO: China has helped Sri Lanka in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the island country now looks forward to furthering its ties with China in order to recover from the pandemic, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage said.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Colombage said 2021 will be a very challenging year for countries including Sri Lanka due to the fight against the pandemic, and Sri Lanka now needs the support of its friends more than in any other years in history.
China has already assisted Sri Lanka since the first local COVID-19 patient was detected in March last year. Since then, China has sent medical assistance such as surgical masks, personal protective equipment, and surgical gloves in large quantities to the country’s health authorities, Colombage said.
“This has helped Sri Lanka in its battle against the pandemic.”
Colombage said China has fought the virus very effectively as it has begun producing vaccines in large quantities and is helping other countries by donating vaccines.
“China is going to give us a large number of vaccines and arrangements are being made. I was told these vaccines will arrive here soon. That is a really great gesture. We need more support in this battle against the COVID-19,” Colombage said. – Agencies
