Netherlands Ambassador Reynout van Dijk recently handed over a bus to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Prasad Wijewickrema to be used as a Mobile Blood Bank on the request of Netherlands Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (NAAL) at its office in Colombo.

The project was funded by the SOS Velsen Organisation which is the Coordinating Agency of the Galle-Velsen Twin City Programme, NAAL President S.P.C. Kumarasinghe said.
In June 2007 when the SOS Velsen delegation headed by its Chairman Guus Hartendorf and NAAL President Kumarasinghe visited Galle, Karapitiya Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Shelton Perera requested them to provide a vehicle which could be used as the mobile blood bank The NAAL endorsed this request and NAAL President Kumarasinghe followed up with SOS Velsen to collect funds to purchase a bus. NAAL President Kumarasinghe said this Mobile Blood Bank will facilitate the collection of blood requirement to the hospital.