Red Cross donates 23 million rupees worth medical equipment to Health Ministry

06/02/2014 – Colombo, Sri Lanka:  The Hungarian Red Cross recently donated 07 defibrillators worth 23 million rupees to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, which handed them over the the Ministry of Health at a function held recently.

The ceremony took place at the presence of Basil Rajapakse, the Minister of Economic Development of Sri Lanka. The machines were handed over to the Medical Superintendents of several hospitals joined by Dr. Zsigmond Gondocs – President of the Hungarian Red Cross, Tissa Abeywickrama – Director General of Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

Tissa Abeywickrama, the Director General, Sri Lanka Red Cross said these donations were possible due to generosity of Hungarian Red Cross and he was very happy to have established a fresh relationship with Hungarian Red Cross with whom SLRCS can work together to assist most vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka.

The hospital authorities said the equipment will immensely support their response to treat people who are subjected to cardiac emergencies.

Meanwhile earlier the President of Hungarian Red Cross Mr. Zsigmond Gondocs and the Director General of Hungarian Red Cross Mr. István Kardos paid a courtesy visit to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

During the General Assembly of the IFRC which was concluded in Australia recently, the President of Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) made a cordial invitation to the President of Hungarian Red Cross to visit Sri Lanka. The meeting was aimed and discussing bilateral ties with the two Red Cross National Societies and looking forward as to how both Societies could work cordially in humanitarian services.

During the discussions the President of SLRCS thanked the President & DG of Hungarian Red Cross for being a true friend during the time of the tsunami and assisting the SLRCS in many ways. Bilateral agreements was also made to provide medical equipments to SLRCS in the near future.

The Director General of the SLRCS Tissa Abeywickrama was also present at the event.

The Hungarian Delegation also visit the tsunami village in Hungama, which was built with financial assistance from the Hungarian Red Cross.