This initiative was taken in order to maintain the required medical grade oxygen stocks for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the island-nation

India will provide 35 tonnes of medical grade oxygen to Sri Lanka to help the country combat Covid-19. On Tuesday, a Sri Lankan Naval Ship Shakthi had sailed for Indian port of Chennai to carry a shipment of medical grade oxygen to Sri Lanka.

Sri Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi commenced its passage from the Trincomalee harbour to reach the Port of Chennai, India to carry a shipment of medical grade oxygen to Sri Lanka, said a statement of the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN).

It added that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed the Navy Commander to make necessary arrangements for the delivery with a view to prevent likely delays in ports in transporting medical grade oxygen to the country.

This initiative was taken in order to maintain the required medical grade oxygen stocks for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the island, the SLN added.

According to Chennai Port officials, the oxygen tankers carrying 35 tonnes of oxygen will be loaded into Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi, which was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday evening. The vessel was set to depart on Thursday morning.

Sri Lanka has recorded over 3.69 lakh coronavirus cases as of Thursday while the death toll has touched 6,604.