May 29, Colombo: China has donated 125,000 face masks for Sri Lankan school children from low-income families before schools reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Hu Wei handed over the donation of the face masks to Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma on 26th May when the 2-month curfew on the island lifted.

The masks will be distributed to those students from low-income families across the country to meet their urgent health need raised by schools reopen countdown, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

The Envoy stated that China and Sri Lanka have been supporting each other in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Both countries are facing a new challenge to resume normalcy in every aspect of life, including to reopen schools.

“Young students are the future of our countries and nations. The Chinese Embassy, by making this donation, extended a most sincere wish to better ensure the safety of Sri Lankan students, and to ease their families’ trepidation after they return to school in 25 districts. China stands by Sri Lanka with all solidarity and support within its ability on fighting the virus and reviving the economy,” the Embassy said in a statement.

Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has highly appreciated this timely donation and believed it will be very helpful to better protect the returning students.

He briefed local media presented at the ceremony that since the outbreak of the COVID-19, Sri Lanka had been receiving huge amount of most needed medical supplies donated by the central and local governments, enterprises and individuals from China. These medical supplies including more than 70 thousand test kits and millions of masks had largely contributed to the effective prevention and control of pandemic on the island. Sri Lankan people will always remember this great support from the oriental country.