(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle has warned the public not to fall prey for fraudulent activities by various people using her name and requesting donations for the equipment needed by the hospitals.
The Minister asked the prospective donors to provide the required items directly to the relevant hospitals.
The Minister offered gratitude to the people who responded to her recent request to philanthropists to join the government to provide urgently needed medical equipment to the hospital, including the Intensive Care Unit of the hospitals to treat patients suffering from Covid disease.
However, she said it has been observed that some individuals and groups are using her name during this epidemic to create fake news and submit fake lists of required equipment for hospitals and request for assistance.
The State Minister said a group called “Sri Lanka Unites” presenting a list of medical devices using her name is asking for help on social media including Twitter and it is false. She requested not to provide financial assistance or medical equipment for this purpose.
“I have not made such a request of them. We made several attempts to inquire about this over the phone numbers they have listed but could not be reached,” she said.
“At the moment what is needed is not to promote personal names or agency names but to provide medical equipment that is suitable for the need, and it is sufficient to consult the relevant hospitals and donate only the equipment that suits the need. My name is not needed for that I only directed the attention of local and foreign philanthropists,” State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said.
