BATTICALOA (Sri Lanka): Former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, Aravinda de Silva, on Tuesday hailed the Indian government's efforts to provide humanitarian aid to bankruptcy-hit Sri Lanka and thanked social and spiritual leader, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, after inaugurating the first phase of a 75-bedded free super specialty hospital, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Super Specialty Hospital in Batticaloa, a region in the east of the island of Sri Lanka, that has faced years of civil war and has sheltered over 30,000 war widows.
"About two weeks ago, I got a message from a very famous man from India, who has been very dear to me and has been one of my childhood idols…that was none other than, Mr Sunil Gavaskar. His message was a request to represent him at the inauguration of the hospital at Batticaloa. Before coming here, I didn't anticipate this kind of magnitude, effort and love that has gone into this project, and witnessing this in person is a remarkable experience; for something like this to happen within five years is indeed remarkable," de Silva said.
"Today, after having completed my childhood phase of enjoying playing cricket, as a cricketer who contributed towards the game of cricket by representing Sri Lanka, as a businessman who has established his own business for the last 14 years; it is time to serve my country, and at this juncture, I find my thinking matching with the motto of this organisation - Love All Serve All. We have enjoyed everything from this lovely nation and now it is time to give the country back what it deserves. Thanks to everyone who has put in so much effort and time to make this hospital happen. My support and help will be there anytime," he added.
The island nation of Sri Lanka is grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis, unemployment and inflation, which has dealt a heavy blow to its robust health system and has led to a terrible short supply of essential life-saving drugs, common antibiotics, and pediatric care, among others. At this hour of need, the Sai Global Federation of Foundations, led by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, has extended support through its member-foundation in Sri Lanka – Sri Sathya Sai Karuna Nilayam Foundation, which was established in the year 2016. The Foundation has served more than 16,000 rural patients till date through its Sri Sathya Sai Karunalayam Medical Centre which was inaugurated in the year 2017.