Sri Lanka-Australia police co-operate in response to COVID-19 pandemic

On 16 December, Australian Federal Police Senior Officer Detective Superintendent Rob Wilson presented Sri Lanka Police Senior Deputy Inspector General Lalith Pathinayake at the Sri Lanka Police Hospital, Colombo-5 with urgently required medical supplies to assist in combating the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka. 

The provided medical equipment seeks to reduce the risk of further spread amongst police personal and to aid the Sri Lanka Police to continue to carry out their duties.

At the presentation ceremony, Detective Superintendent Rob Wilson said: “Australia expresses solidarity with Sri Lanka in facing the impact of COVID-19, particularly as many Sri Lanka Police officers have been directly impacted by the pandemic. 

“This medical equipment will assist frontline Police officers in Sri Lanka to continue duties on the frontline responding to the pandemic, and protecting the community. This initiative continues the long standing friendship between the Sri Lanka Police and the Australian Federal Police.”

Australia’s support to Sri Lanka Police is part of an overall package of support from Australia to Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 response that seeks to bolster health security, provide critical food and hygiene items to Sri Lankan communities and support economic recovery.