Uber partners SL Red Cross Society; offers $ 0.2 m to support vulnerable communities

 Uber Asia Pacific Regional General Manager for Delivery Saskia de Jongh (left) with Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe. Uber Sri Lanka General Manager Bhavna Dadlani Jayawardena and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Colombo Branch Executive Officer Chairman Kumari Kothalawala are also present

• Donations to provide dry ration kits and critical medicines

Uber Sri Lanka this week announced a $ 200,000 donation to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to help vulnerable communities affected by the economic crisis. 

The donations will be used to distribute food and life-saving medicines across the country.

Over 10,000 individuals, including Uber delivery and driver partners and members of the larger community, will receive dry-ration packs containing daily essentials for a family of four. In addition, 15 rural hospitals serving over 30,000 individuals will receive emergency medication and related supplies purchased directly from international suppliers. 

The partnership was announced by Uber’s visiting global executive, Uber Asia Pacific Regional General Manager for Delivery Saskia de Jongh and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe who were joined by Uber Sri Lanka General Manager Bhavna and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Colombo Branch Executive Officer Chairman Kumari Kothalawala.

Sharing her views on the partnership, Saskia de Jongh said: “We are committed to helping Sri Lanka and the communities that we serve. We recognise this is a difficult time for the country, and we are pleased to be able to support it via this partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. Sri Lanka and its people are full of potential, and both will emerge stronger from this crisis.”

Jagath Abeysinghe said: “Uber has embarked on a timely initiative to assist the most vulnerable people of Sri Lanka by providing financial assistance during this economic crisis. The trust in Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to deliver their aspirations prove that the Society has continued to work for the most vulnerable in its time of need. Such partnerships as this are vital.”

Uber Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society partnered during the pandemic to support the country’s vaccination drive. Uber donated 50,000 free rides to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society for transporting frontline healthcare workers, elderly and citizens from vulnerable communities to vaccination hubs.