A 31-member Japanese medical team departed Sri Lanka on Monday night after completing a humanitarian mission to provide emergency healthcare services to communities affected by recent flooding, officials said.
The team, deployed under Japan Disaster Relief (JDR), arrived in Sri Lanka on December 3 and spent nearly two weeks delivering medical care at a temporary field hospital established at the Chilaw Police Grounds. During the mission, they provided consultations, laboratory and pharmacy services, as well as other essential clinical care to residents in Chilaw and surrounding areas.
Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe met the team on Monday morning at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media to acknowledge their contribution. A ministry statement noted that the Japanese team’s leadership and close collaboration played a key role in the success of the emergency medical response.
Iwase Kiichiro, head of the Japanese Disaster Relief medical team, expressed appreciation to the Sri Lankan government and health authorities for their support, describing the mission as a reflection of the long-standing friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka.
The 31-member team comprised doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory specialists, radiologists, relief personnel, and coordinators, delivering care in line with international disaster response standards. The Ministry of Health and Mass Media also conducted special monitoring of the field hospital throughout the team’s deployment.
Officials expressed gratitude for the team’s timely assistance, emphasizing that the mission provided rapid emergency medical care to thousands of residents affected by the floods.
