MasterCard pledges US $ 750,000 for Karapitiya Trail Cancer Hospital via ‘Tap for Change’ campaign

Sandun Hapugoda and Mahela Jayawardene

PIX BY KITHSIRI DE MEL

• Mastercard had already contributed US $ 500,000 (Rs.150 million) to build 10-storey Trail Cancer Hospital in Karapitiya
• Payment platform is working with Colours of Courage to raise remaining funds via contactless transactions

By Shannine Daniel 

MasterCard has pledged to donate US $ 750,000 towards the construction of the Trail Cancer Hospital in Karapitiya, in the Galle district. 

The hospital will consist of a 10-storey, 160-bed facility that will provide advanced cancer care for adult and paediatric patients.

The donation is part of MasterCard’s Tap for Change campaign in Sri Lanka, an initiative that strives to encourage more contactless transactions in the country and empower the cardholders to turn every day digital payments into life-saving impact.

In a statement to the media, MasterCard said the Tap for Change campaign is Sri Lanka’s largest community-driven cancer care initiative. 

Starting this month, every cashless transaction made using a MasterCard debit or credit card in Sri Lanka will directly support the construction of the hospital. 

By simply tapping the MasterCard to pay, the cardholders, merchants and partners will collectively help build a facility that will transform cancer care for thousands of underserved patients and their families. 

MasterCard Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Sandun Hapugoda clarified that the consumers do not have to pay separately; MasterCard will make a donation on behalf of its customers, when they use their credit or debit cards.  

The campaign was launched in collaboration with Colours of Courage, a Sri Lankan non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing cancer care and treatment in Sri Lanka. 

The trust’s landmark initiative ‘Trail’ was established with the vision of uniting Sri Lankan communities in the nation’s fight against cancer.

It mobilised millions of Sri Lankans to walk across the country to raise funds for critical healthcare infrastructure. 

“One reason why we organised this campaign is because we want people to have access to good cancer care at a more convenient location,” said Hapugoda. 

“We also wanted to create more awareness on digital payment instruments,” he said.

Hapugoda noted that MasterCard is also working toward empowering small and medium enterprises in Sri Lanka, via awareness on cybersecurity. He invited MasterCard’s partners and merchants to participate in the campaign and contribute additional donations. 

Colours of Courage Co-founder Mahela Jayawardene stated that the Sri Lanka Armed Forces are involved in the building of the hospital, with three floors of the building already completed. The foundation is now in the process of raising the remaining funds.

“MasterCard has made an amazing commitment and I’m happy to announce that they have already given us US $ 500,000, which is Rs.150 million,” Jayawardene said.