A 31-member Japanese medical team departed Sri Lanka on Monday night after completing a humanitarian mission to provide emergency health services to communities affected by recent flooding, officials said.
The team, part of Japan Disaster Relief (JDR), arrived in Sri Lanka on Dec. 3 and spent nearly two weeks delivering medical care at a temporary field hospital set up at the Chilaw Police Grounds. They treated residents in Chilaw and surrounding areas, including consultation, laboratory and pharmacy services, and other clinical care.
Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe met the team Monday morning at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media to acknowledge their work. A statement from the ministry noted that the Japanese team’s leadership and collaboration significantly contributed to the success of the emergency medical response.
Iwase Kiichiro, head of the Japanese Disaster Relief medical team, thanked the Sri Lankan government and health authorities for their support and highlighted the mission as a continuation of long-standing Japan–Sri Lanka friendship.
The 31-member team included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory specialists, radiologists, relief personnel, and coordinators, providing care in line with international disaster response standards. The Ministry of Health and Mass Media also conducted special monitoring of the field hospital during the team’s stay.
Officials expressed gratitude for the team’s contribution to rapid emergency care, emphasizing that the mission helped thousands of residents affected by the floods. (Newswire)