A Gift That Transformed Emergency Care
In 2016, India extended a remarkable gesture of goodwill by gifting 88 ambulances to Sri Lanka. Facilitated by then-Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the donation enabled Sri Lanka to launch its first-ever national emergency medical service — a system comparable to the 911 service in the United States or 999 in the United Kingdom.
What began as an act of neighborly support has since evolved into a national lifeline. Over the past decade, the ambulance fleet has expanded significantly, growing to 322 vehicles operating across the island nation and providing critical emergency services around the clock, free of charge.
A Decade of Lives Saved
According to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, the ambulance service has attended to approximately 2.44 million patients, treating cases ranging from cardiac arrests and strokes to serious road accidents. Impressively, around 65% of these cases were addressed within the critical “golden hour,” dramatically improving survival rates.
Minister Jayatissa conveyed in a recent communication to Prime Minister Modi that nearly 1.5 million lives have been saved thanks to India’s initial donation and the continued development of the emergency services program.
Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Health Sector
Even prior to the establishment of its national ambulance service, Sri Lanka had distinguished itself among South Asian nations for its healthcare achievements. In 2011, it ranked within the top third of 142 countries evaluated by the World Economic Forum for healthcare quality.
Today, buoyed by initiatives like the ambulance service, Sri Lanka continues to lead the region, boasting a Human Development Index score of 0.750 and a life expectancy of 75.5 years.
Sri Lanka has also successfully eradicated several infectious diseases ahead of schedule and continues to perform strongly on the World Giving Index, where it holds the fifth position globally for charitable behavior.
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