Sri Lanka’s free ambulance service, 1990 Suwa Seriya, has completed 06 years since its launch in 2016.
The project initiated by former minister Dr. Harsha de Silva became reality as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided a health package in the form of a grant of USD 7.6 million at a time when Sri Lanka was facing an acute shortage of ambulances.
Initially, the hospitals of the Western and the Sabaragamuwa provinces were given the much-needed ambulances and the project was methodically started with a fleet of 88 ambulances.
Celebrating the anniversary of Suwa Seriya that was marked yesterday, MP Harsha de Silva said the project has been a huge success thus far, with 5.4 million calls and 1.2 million emergency and critical care admissions.
He further congratulated the Chairman of the Suwa Seriya organization Dumindra Ratnayake and his team of 1500 staff.
Dr. Harsha de Silva also extended his gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the successful implementation and operations of the free ambulance service.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) Manoj Gupta said Sri Lanka is blessed and privileged to have the Suwa Seriya ambulance service.
These ambulances can fill diesel on priority at the LIOC sheds and we have strongly advised dealers to keep reserve diesel for them, he further said.
Gupta also extended his gratitude to Energy Minister Kanchana Wiejsekera for placing no restrictions on the fuel limit for the ambulances despite a fuel shortage in the nation. (NewsWire)
