“To protect the three-wheeler drivers is to protect ourselves,” Hu Wei, Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, said today donating 50,000 face masks for Sri Lankan three-wheeler drivers.

The Chinese envoy handed over 50,000 surgical masks to M.J.M. Hameed, Vice President of the All Island Three-wheeler Driver’s Union for tens of thousands of its drivers.

In addition, 35,000 COVID-19 prevention posters jointly published by the Ministry of Health, the Health Promotion Bureau and the Chinese Embassy were also delivered to the Union by Dr. Ajith Jasinghe, Director General of the Health Services.

Speaking at the event, the Chinese Envoy stated that three-wheelers are most popular transportation for the general public, and to protect the drivers from COVID-19 is to protect ourselves. All the masks and health guidelines posters delivered to these thousands of drivers represent the sincere friendship and best wishes from the Chinese people.

Till July, more than 73,000 test kits, 4 million masks, and 20,000 PPEs together with many other materials have been donated by China, which become a main source for Sri Lankan society combating the pandemic.

Among these, the Embassy is especially proud to have provided 189,000 masks to students across the country for the school reopening and another 100,000 masks to Election Commission for the coming General Election.

“The time-tested friendship and mutual trust between China and Sri Lanka will grow only stronger through the joint fight against COVID-19,” the Embassy said.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe showed his gratitude to China for continuous support since the pandemic outbreak in the island.

The Director-General said that three-wheelers are the main mode of transportation closest to the people of this country, and there is close contact between drivers and passengers.

“The Chinese Embassy understood that three-wheeler drivers need to wear masks to protect the health of themselves and the public, so they decided to donate face masks. The Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Bureau also printed a large number of posters that contain important information about health safety, which are very important because three-wheelers go to every street, corner and end of this country. Regardless of age, anyone can understand the important information on these posters. "I thank the Chinese Embassy for important work done to protect the country’s health." Dr. Jasinghe expressed.

Mr. M.J.M. Hameed also extended his sincere thanks on behalf of the Union and its numerous members. "We’re going to distribute all the face masks and health posters to more than 5 thousand drivers without any delay, so as to safeguard ourselves, our passengers and the general public especially during the coming General Election."

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