Colombo, Aug 22 (TIWN) Indian Navy's fleet tanker 'Shakti' has arrived here with 100 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) to fight the fast spreading Covid-19 pandemic in the island-nation.

The Indian High Commission stated that along with the shipment of medical grade oxygen, a total of nearly 300 metric tonnes of LMO are to be transported to Sri Lanka during this week.  In line with India’s ongoing commitment to support Sri Lanka in the fight against Covid-19, ‘Shakti’ set sail from Visakhapatnam on August 19.  “Named Operation Samudra Setu-II, deployment of the Indian Naval Vessel for the delivery of oxygen was in response to a personal request for assistance by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for urgent supply of LMO,” the Indian High Commission stated.  “Samudra Setu-II is an initiative of the Indian Navy to undertake urgent shipments of LMO containers and associated medical equipment to various countries. Seven Indian Naval Ships were deployed for such missions earlier,” it added. In May last year under “Operation Samudra Setu”, around 700 Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka were evacuated while stranded Sri Lankans too were repatriated to their home country.