Sri Lanka has donated a consignment of essential medicines worth more than 5 million Sri Lankan rupees (about MVR 250,000) to the Maldives, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health and Mass Media said.
Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa handed over the medicines at a ceremony at the ministry in Colombo on 22 October. The Maldives' High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, received them on behalf of the Maldivian government.
The Sri Lankan ministry said the donation was made in response to a request from the Maldives' Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Geela Ali.
State and industry supply
The medicines were provided through Sri Lanka's Medical Supplies Division and the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation, with contributions from the country's pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe and Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena were among the senior Sri Lankan officials at the handover, along with representatives of the pharmaceutical sector.
Imad thanked the Sri Lankan government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for the assistance and highlighted the long-standing friendship and close ties between the two countries.
Details of the specific medicines in the consignment were not made public.
Closer health ties
The donation comes two months after the Maldivian health ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka's Suwasevana Hospital in August to establish a clinical internship programme.
Parliament approved Geela Ali's appointment as health minister in April this year.