Dialog Axiata PLC, recognized as Sri Lanka’s leading connectivity provider, has pledged LKR 420 million to support the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative. This effort aims to accelerate recovery following Cyclone Ditwah, focusing on healthcare and education sectors in affected communities. The allocated funds will be used to restore and upgrade essential hospital infrastructure and refurbish ICT facilities in schools, in cooperation with relevant authorities.
The commitment was formalized during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, attended by Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka; Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media; Hon. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy; along with secretaries of pertinent ministries, senior government officials, and Dialog representatives. The discussions centered on a collaborative framework for implementing the proposed initiatives in education and healthcare, aligned with national priorities.
In the healthcare sector, Dialog will collaborate with the Ministry of Health to restore and upgrade critical hospital infrastructure at Chilaw District General Hospital, Divisional Hospital Kotmale, Divisional Hospital Madulkele, and Base Hospital Puttalam. In the education sector, Dialog will partner with the Ministry of Education to refurbish computer laboratories in over 20 schools affected by the cyclone, restoring ICT infrastructure and connectivity to support ongoing learning.
Speaking on the initiative, Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, emphasized, “Public–private partnerships are crucial in advancing national priorities, especially during recovery periods following a disaster of this magnitude. The Government values Dialog’s strong commitment to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative, which will aid in restoring essential services and enhancing future preparedness. As Minister of Education, I also acknowledge the importance of restoring digital access and learning continuity for students impacted by the cyclone. These collaborations are vital to achieving meaningful, long-term outcomes for affected communities.”
Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, stated, “Strengthening healthcare infrastructure post-disaster is essential to ensuring uninterrupted care for affected communities. Dialog’s support in restoring and upgrading key hospital facilities will significantly contribute to improving resilience within the public health system.”
Supun Weerasinghe, Director and Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, remarked, “Cyclone Ditwah has profoundly impacted communities nationwide, posing significant challenges for many Sri Lankans. Through this commitment, we aim to restore critical healthcare services and rebuild digital access for students while supporting national recovery efforts aligned with Government priorities.”
During and immediately after Cyclone Ditwah, Dialog assisted over 8 million customers through free voice, SMS, and mobile data services, emergency home broadband data quotas, and complimentary access to select Dialog Television channels. This support enabled individuals, families, and communities in affected areas to maintain essential communication and access critical information.
This commitment builds on Dialog’s long-standing role in supporting national recovery during crises. Following major landslides and floods in 2016–2017, Dialog launched the Senehe Siyapatha initiative, under which villages in Aranayake, Kotapola, and Ehaliyagoda were constructed to support families displaced by natural disasters. In 2019, in response to the Easter Sunday attacks, Dialog established the Rally to Care fund to provide long-term educational and psychosocial support to affected children and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), Dialog contributed to strengthening Sri Lanka’s healthcare response by establishing fully equipped Intensive Care Units at Negombo and Homagama hospitals.
More recently, during the 2022 economic crisis, Dialog supported the development and nationwide rollout of the National Fuel Pass system, a Government-recognized initiative that facilitated allocation-based fuel distribution and continues to be supported free of charge in collaboration with relevant authorities. Concurrently, Dialog also initiated the Manudham Mehewera, a nationwide food security initiative assisting vulnerable families across the country.
Image – Left to Right: A B M Ashraff, Additional Secretary (Development), Prime Minister’s Office; Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Dr. Kumara Wickramasinghe, Additional Secretary (Medical services), Ministry of Health; Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Mass Media; Nalaka Kaludewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education; Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister, Ministry of Health and Mass Media; Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka; Hon. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy; Supun Weerasinghe, Director / Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC; Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Acting Secretary for the Ministry of Digital Economy; Lasantha Thevarapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath (Retd), Director General, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.