Lanka IOC donates ambulance to Lihiniyagama Divisional Hospital

Lanka IOC, under its CSR arm ‘WE CARE” recently donated an ambulance to the Lihiniyagama Hospital, in the Dehiathakandiya Division of the Ampara District. It was formally handed over by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena to the Regional Director of Health Services, Ampara, Dr. Senaka Talagala in the presence of the Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka His Excellency Y. K. Sinha at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

According to Dr. Talagala, the Dehiathakandiya area has been identified by the Ministry of Health as an area affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). At present, around 350 new patients have been registered in this area. The Base Hospital at Dehiathakandiya currently provides treatment to patients suffering from CKD. However, considering the large number of patients reported in the adjoining Lihiniyagama area, a Primary Medical Care Unit has been established at the Lihiniyagama Hospital to provide relief to these new patients.

H.E President Maithripala Sirisena appreciated and welcomed the donation of this ambulance especially  since  a  large  number  of  CKD  patients  were  reported  from  the  Dehiathakandiya Division in recent times. Regional Director of Health Services, Ampara, Dr. Senaka Talagala together with Dr. Tilak Rajapakse received the ambulance on behalf of the hospital.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony Managing Director, Lanka IOC Mr. Subodh Dakwale said, “As a socially responsible corporate citizen, Lanka IOC believes that the profitable growth of  a  company  depends  on  the  economic,  environmental, and  social  sustainability  of  the communities across the island nation. Our CSR initiatives stem from this simple yet strong belief and regular initiatives are being taken by the company in this direction”.

“It is with this in mind that we are pursuing and nurturing our CSR programme under the theme “WE  CARE”,  which  led  to  our  decision  to  donate  this  ambulance  to  the  newly-developed Primary Medical Care Unit at Lihiniyagama. This will greatly help to provide speedy and timely treatment  to  the  large  number  of  CKD  patients  in  this  area.  An ambulance was an urgent requirement and I am happy that Lanka IOC was given the opportunity to come forward and be of assistance”, he added.

The  High  Commissioner  of  India  to  Sri  Lanka  His  Excellency  Y.  K.  Sinha  said  that  the Government  of  India  and  many  Indian  companies  in  Sri  Lanka  have  been  providing  many services to the community especially in the health sector. “The donation of this ambulance by Lanka  IOC  PLC  is  one  such  activity and  I  believe  that  this  will  be of  immense  help  to  the affected community in that area”, he said.

He added that with the donation of modern facilities to the Glencairn Hospital in Dickoya, the hospital would commence OPD functions in the near future. The High Commissioner affirmed that  the  Government of  India had  many  more  health projects  lined  up for  the  people  of  Sri Lanka. Also present at the handing over ceremony were Independent Directors and Senior Officials of Lanka IOC and Government officials.