The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, together with the Pathfinder Foundation, launched the Sinhala translation of the internationally-known book 'Prevention and Control of COVID-19', which was edited by Shanghai Medical Treatment Experts Group Head, Professor Zhang Wenhong.
Chinese Embassy Chargé d'affaires Hu Wei, together with former Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director Luxman Siriwardena, handed over copies of book to the chief guests at the ceremony, Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Lakshmi Somatunge and Education Ministry Additional Secretary Anusha Fernando.
Siriwardena thanked the Chinese partners for the free authorisation of copyrights on the original book and extended his confidence on a new height of friendship and cooperation between the two countries after the pandemic.
Dr. Lakshmi Somatunge commended the long-term collaboration between the health departments of Sri Lanka and China and appreciated China's continuous support, including the donation of medical supplies donation and the sharing of information on the prevention of the Coronavirus. The Health Ministry Additional Secretary also commended the practical guidelines and scenario-based strategies provided by the editor of the book.
Also speaking at the event, Sri Lanka-China Society Acting President Jinith de Silva and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Managing Director Zhang Xiaoqiang highlighted their experiences on people-to-people diplomacy and the social responsibility of Chinese enterprises during the ongoing pandemic.
Chinese Embassy Chargé d'affaires Hu Wei commended the efforts of the Pathfinder Foundation on the translation and publication of the book. Highlighting the mutual support and solidarity during the pandemic, Wei reiterated the commitment from Chinese side to work together with Sri Lanka in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new proposal to reprint around 8,000 copies for all medical workers in the island.
The digital version of 'Prevention and Control of COVID-19' could be downloaded free via: http://pathfinderfoundation.org/images/pdf/2020/book%20on%20covid-19%20.pdf