SLNS Shakthi carrying medical grade oxygen from India arrives at port of Colombo

Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi which left the Trincomalee harbour for the port of Chennai, Indian on 17th August 2021, for a shipment of medical-grade oxygen ordered from India, arrived at the port of Colombo, with approx. 40 tons of oxygen, in the midnight on 22nd August 2021.

His Excellency the President directed Commander of the Navy to seek out arrangements to swiftly transport medical grade oxygen, ordered from India, for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in hospitals. In response to the presidential directives, the Navy joined this effort to augment the supply chain for the country’s need of medical grade oxygen and dispatched SLNS Shakthi to the port of Chennai to bring a similar shipment on 17th August. The ship made her port call in Chennai on 18th August and set sail to Colombo on 20th August with the shipment of medical grade oxygen amounting to approx. 40 tons.

Upon unloading the containers of oxygen at Colombo harbour, SLNS Shakthi is scheduled to sail to the port of Chennai again tomorrow (24th August) for another shipment of medical-grade oxygen.

In the same vein, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shakti rushed to Sri Lanka with approx. 100 tons of oxygen, in response to a call of Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne from Chief of Naval Staff of India, also arrived at the port of Colombo on the evening of 22nd August.

Further, Sri Lanka Navy is prepared to make its contribution to go ahead with this service as needed, to make sure expeditious supply of medical grade oxygen for COVID-19 treatment.