While Sri Lanka is grappling with its worst economic crisis that has turned out to be a nightmare of a recovery plan for the government, severe medical and food supply shortages have already affected the country. Just like other sectors that are badly affected, the health and food sector cannot afford to wait till the [...]

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Health and food crisis will not wait till credit lines arrive

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While Sri Lanka is grappling with its worst economic crisis that has turned out to be a nightmare of a recovery plan for the government, severe medical and food supply shortages have already affected the country. Just like other sectors that are badly affected, the health and food sector cannot afford to wait till the credit lines the government is working arrives, a top health sector official stressed.

On Thursday Sri Lanka’s leading private sector companies joined UNDP Sri Lanka providing a facility to fund and support the ongoing food and medical supply shortages. The launch of the facility was held at the UNDP Sri Lanka headquarters in Colombo. Hemas Holdings PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Brandix Apparel Ltd and Daraz
Sri Lanka have come forward to pledge their commitment.

Ministry of Health, Director Medical Technical Services and Coordinator in charge of COVID-19, Dr. Anver Hamdani stressed, “Unlike other sectors that are badly affected, the health sector cannot afford to endanger the lives of patients till credit lines arrive. The credit lines will take time. The only way to bridge the gap is for the private sector to contribute towards the national cause. We need to get the best at an affordable price.” The private sector is always giving and the government sector is getting them all.”

UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer Hamdy stated, this is the worst economic crisis not even faced during the time of war. “Sri Lanka is resilient and the people will come together to support each other. Humanitarian interventions from private sector companies can create job opportunities and it goes beyond CSR. It is an investment to protect a humanitarian crisis that in turn will be good for businesses,” she added.

Agriculture has a risk of failing for the second season this year, says UNDP Sri Lanka, Officer in Charge, Malin Herwig. “70 per cent of Sri Lankans have changed their food consumption patterns. Today we are launching the private sector contribution facility. People’s crowdfunding will come in a few weeks,” she added.

Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, CEO, Dilhan Fernando reiterated that the only way to face the crisis is with unity and all private sector companies must collaborate and work with the government. “Role of businesses have changed and what we do today will be the result for tomorrow,” he stressed.

“While we face the crisis today, we need to get the reforms in place. As responsible corporates we need to be able to give back to the people, we need a tomorrow to survive for the people and ask ourselves do we commit to invest when we are struggling. Alone we can’t impact, together we can,” noted Hemas Holdings PLC, Group CEO and Executive Director, Kasthuri Chellarajah Wilson.

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