Japan expresses solidarity with Sri Lanka against COVID-19; provides Cold Chain Equipment

COLOMBO (News 1st); Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Sugiyama Akira handed over the second batch of cold chain equipment procured by UNICEF with funding from the Government of Japan to strengthen Sri Lanka’s delivery of COVID-19 vaccine, to Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

Ambassador Sugiyama paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Minister of Health and reaffirmed Japan’s solidarity with Sri Lanka in fighting COVID-19 and commitment to continuing assistance for the health sector of Sri Lanka.

The second batch of cold chain equipment includes 750 vaccine carriers, 300 cold boxes, 100 Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILRs), 145 fridge temperature monitors and Android Tablets for effective management of vaccines.

The Government of Japan believes that the cold chain equipment will be of great help to ensure safe and prompt distribution of vaccines to the people of Sri Lanka through adequate storage and transportation of vaccines.

Further to this, Japan has recently provided over 1.45 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Japan to Sri Lanka through the COVAX Facility with the support of UNICEF.

Japan believes that the provision of the said vaccines and cold chain equipment will further accelerate the vaccination programme in Sri Lanka and contribute to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Christian Skoog, Representative of UNICEF Sri Lanka was also present at this meeting.