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Indian Army to send teams to Sri Lanka to fight Covid-19

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22 April 2020 09:59 am - 18     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Indian Army is readying separate teams to be deployed in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan to help those countries boost capabilities to deal with rising cases of coronavirus, official sources said on Tuesday.

A 14-member Indian Army team was sent to Maldives last month to help the island nation set up coronavirus testing laboratories and train local medical professionals to fight the pandemic, the PTI reported .

Earlier this month, India dispatched a 15-member team of Army to Kuwait as part of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The sources said the teams for Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan are being readied as part of India’s policy of extending helping hand to all friendly countries in the region to fight the pandemic.

India has also been playing a key role in pushing for a common framework in fighting the pandemic in the SAARC region.

At a video conference on March 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for formulating a joint strategy to fight COVID-19 in the SAARC region and proposed an emergency fund with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India. It is understood that India has already made the contribution.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a grouping comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

All the SAARC member nations are reeling under adverse social and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of its policy to help friendly countries to deal with the pandemic, India is also supplying anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to 55 countries. A number of countries including the US, Mauritius and Seychelles have already received the drug.

Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for COVID-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York.

The demand for the drug has swelled rapidly after India decided to lift a ban on its export.


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  Comments - 18

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  • Horona Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:10 AM

    Is our Army unable to handle the virus?

    Chux Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:10 AM

    They will bring more Covid 19 patients to Sri Lanka

    Bhatiya Siriwardena Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:11 AM

    What nonsense. We do not need Indians coming here to teach us. We have our own resources

    Karu Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:26 AM

    You are correct. We should send back the ten metric tonnes of medicines we received. Also should not send our Forces for training in India. Also boycott all Indian goods as done earlier. Bajaj three wheelers and Dimo Battas

    harsha sk Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:13 AM

    This is welcome.news! This will also help to balance China's Corona diplomacy.

    K.M.Palitha Perera Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:14 AM

    Err, thank you Modi sir, but no Indians sir, Indian variety of Covid 19 is ruining our Keselewatta area sir. Thanks in advance for not sending your troops sir.

    Adrian Jude Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:31 AM

    The Sri Lankan Army is doing a brilliant job fighting this pandemic. We should be sending our troops to India to teach them how to fight this monster.

    Patriot Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:42 AM

    May be not the Indian Army but send us some Indian police personal with 6X4 wooden sticks, to control the people who may be loitering around.

    Nissanka Seneviratne Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:01 AM

    A Raw team? Fishing in troubled waters?

    Rajinder Adikaritileke Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:29 AM

    Why do we need India to help Sri Lanka? No Thank you. Our Medical, our forces are doing a extraordinary job. Tell them it is not Mr.RW in power anymore.

    Made kakula Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:37 AM

    Huh? The last I checked we were doing 100% better than India.

    gamaathi Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:39 AM

    Indians were the first to arrive here during the tsunami to help us. we should not refuse when someone wants to help us. we should be a grateful nation.

    ravin Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:39 AM

    Oh another IPKF( Illan Parippu Kana Force) force? Haven't they got enough last time?

    CITIZEN Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:45 AM

    DID WE SEND AN SOS MSG. INDIA TRYING TO EARN A FAST BUCK. REMEMBER THE IPKF?

    PG Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:48 AM

    Will they be in quarantine first? Remember most corona positive cases in SL are from visits to India No thanks India , you manage your problems which is huge I believe will manage ours .

    Willows Drive Wednesday, 22 April 2020 04:49 PM

    Rubbish, our great Army can teach anybody, we dont need any help from them, infact they will bring more trouble ?

    AS Wednesday, 22 April 2020 04:49 PM

    Guys, stop letting your pride get in the way. Yes, our officials have been working admirably. But the more resources that we have the faster we recover.

    Maha Adhikarama Thursday, 23 April 2020 11:22 AM

    Use your army to build some more toilets in India.


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