India has sent around three tonnes of anti-tuberculosis medicines to Sri Lanka in support of the country's public health sector.

The consignment was dispatched to Colombo aboard an Indian Air Force C-130J military transport aircraft, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said.

The shipment took place on September 28, and news of it appeared in Sri Lanka in the early hours of September 29.

Jaishankar said the assistance formed part of India's continuing commitment to support Sri Lanka's public health system.

Tuberculosis is among the infectious diseases continuously monitored by Sri Lanka's public health sector. Through the National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases under the Ministry of Health, the country carries out tuberculosis detection, treatment and disease-control work nationwide.

Under Sri Lanka's national policy, patients diagnosed with tuberculosis receive treatment free of charge through the public health system. Taking prescribed medicines without interruption for the full course is considered essential to tuberculosis treatment.

Stopping treatment early or failing to take medicines as prescribed can increase the risk of drug-resistant tuberculosis. A reliable supply of medicines and consistent treatment therefore play an important role in controlling the disease.

Against this background, the approximately three tonnes of anti-tuberculosis medicines sent from India constitute medical assistance to Sri Lanka's public health system.

The current official announcement, however, does not say that the medicines were sent specifically to resolve a particular shortage in Sri Lanka. It also does not identify the individual medicines or their quantities. Those details therefore cannot be presented as confirmed facts.

The consignment is a continuation of health cooperation between Sri Lanka and India. India's External Affairs Minister said his country remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka's public health system.