Sri Lanka was hit hard by the COVID pandemic. At that time, we helped transport frontline healthcare workers by offering 50,000 free rides to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. As the country now grapples with an economic crisis, we are helping support those who need it the most. 

This week, we’ve announced a new partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to provide a donation of USD 200,000 to help the country emerge stronger from the crisis. 

The donation will provide support to vulnerable communities affected by the economic crisis. It will be used to distribute food and life-saving medicines across the country.

Over 10,000 individuals, including Uber delivery and driver partners and members of the larger community, will receive dry-ration packs containing daily essentials for a family of four. In addition, 15 rural hospitals serving over 30,000 individuals will receive emergency medication and related supplies purchased directly from international suppliers. 

Our global executive, Saskia de Jongh, Regional General Manager for Delivery in the APAC region, and Jagath Abeysinghe, President, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, made this announcement at a local event along with our Sri Lanka General Manager, Bhavna Dadlani Jayawardena, and Kumari Kothalawala, Branch Executive Officer, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Colombo Branch.  

Saskia de Jongh, Regional General Manager for Delivery, Uber APAC, said, “We are committed to helping Sri Lanka and the communities that we serve. We recognize this is a difficult time for the country, and we are pleased to be able to support it via this partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. Sri Lanka and its people are full of potential, and both will emerge stronger from this crisis.”

Jagath Abeysinghe, President of Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, said, “Uber has embarked on a timely initiative to assist the most vulnerable people of Sri Lanka by providing financial assistance during this economic crisis. The trust in Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to deliver their aspirations prove that the Society has continued to work for the most vulnerable in its time of need. Such partnerships as this are vital.”

Uber Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society partnered during the pandemic to support the country’s vaccination drive. Uber donated 50,000 free rides to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society for transporting frontline healthcare workers, elderly and citizens from vulnerable communities to vaccination hubs. #APACsocialimpact