June 20, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has resumed its donation of eye corneas to Pakistan, a practice that had been paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an official statement.
Five corneas were sent on a SriLankan Airlines flight to Lahore last night and were received by a team of Pakistani army medical personnel.
These corneas will be used for surgeries at the army hospital in Rawalpindi. Sri Lankan High Commissioner Admiral (Retired) Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne, who coordinated the donation, is also expected to observe the surgeries.
Sri Lanka has a long history of donating eye corneas, having provided over 88,000 to countries worldwide, with more than 36,000 going to Pakistan.
“This marks a new chapter in our noble initiative to strengthen people-to-people connections between our two nations, which have been steadfast friends through challenging times.
The corneas will be implanted in patients in need by Pakistani military eye surgeons. Currently, over 300 patients in hospitals around Lahore are awaiting corneas,” the High Commissioner stated.
The donation effort was organised by Idris Admani, President of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Friendship Association.
