{
  "id": 6069789,
  "title": "Lanka records 467,000 blood donations in 2025",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/lanka-records-467-000-blood-donations-in-2025",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-07T00:01:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/lanka-records-467000-blood-donations-in-2025/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2025, Sri Lanka achieved a record-breaking milestone, collecting a staggering 467,000 units of blood donations, according to Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service. The Director made the announcement during a ceremony held at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital to recognize blood donors and organizers of donation campaigns. Edirisinghe emphasized that Sri Lanka's National Blood Transfusion Service operates in alignment with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, through 110 functioning blood banks. He proudly stated that Sri Lanka is among a select group of 50 to 60 countries out of the approximately 190 UN member states, that possess a national blood transfusion service capable of fulfilling the nation's entire blood demand. Sri Lanka has managed to meet its annual blood requirement of 100% since 2014, despite recording about five million hospital admissions each year. Approximately 85% of the country's blood supply is sourced from around 5,000 mobile blood donation clinics spread across the island, while the remaining 15% is obtained from voluntary donors visiting blood banks directly. Edirisinghe hailed Sri Lanka's system as a significant healthcare accomplishment, highlighting that it surpasses certain developed European nations that lack comparable systems. The WHO has entrusted Sri Lanka with the task of aiding 13 regional countries in establishing national blood transfusion services, providing technical guidance to countries equipped with advanced technology but lacking institutional frameworks for blood collection and distribution. Edirisinghe expressed gratitude to the Sri Lankan donors for their continued voluntary blood donations during the COVID-19 pandemic, even without any material rewards. At the Peradeniya ceremony, over 100 blood donors and organizers of donation campaigns received special recognition. Notable among them was teacher Gihan Brahmanage, who has donated blood 100 times since 1990. Peradeniya Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Iresha Fernando and other hospital officials were also present at the event.",
  "summary": "By SK Samaranayake Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever number of blood donations, in a single year, in 2025, collecting 467,000 units, National Blood Transfusion Service Director Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe said. Edirisinghe made the remarks yesterday (06) while serving as Chief Guest at a ceremony held at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital to honour blood donors and […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Sri Lanka collects 467,000 blood donations in 2025",
    "National Blood Transfusion Service meets 100% blood demand",
    "5,000 mobile clinics and voluntary donors supply blood"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}