Uber’s discounted tuk trips to help residents get to vaccination centres

Uber on Monday announced it will provide discounted trips on its popular Tuk service for residents travelling to 13 vaccination centres across Colombo for supporting the government’s vaccination drive and removing transport as a barrier to vaccine access.

To redeem Uber’s promo code, trips must start or end at one of the vaccine centres below:

1. New Bazaar Maternity Home, New Bazaar
2. C.M.C. Dispensary & Maternity Home, Kirula
3. Maternal & Child Welfare Centre Borella, Borella
4. Wellawatta Market, Wellawatta
5. MOH Office Boralesgamuwa, Boralesgamuwa
6. Lunawa Hospital, Egoda Uyana    
7. Temple Rukmalgama, Pannipitiya, Maharagama
8. Maternal & Child Health Clinic, Soyzapura, Moratuwa
9. Kichilan reception hall, Slave Island, Colombo 02
10. Sampura Flats, Forbes Road
11. Sri Dharmavijayaramaya, Nawagampura
12. Sri Jinendrarama Temple, Thimbirigasyaya
13. Keththarama Maha Viharaya Temple, Keththaramaya

Uber is also partnering with the Ministry of Health to launch a COVID-19 Awareness Campaign to reinforce safety and hygiene protocols for helping revive Sri Lanka’s economy while promoting best practices in safety, the ride hailing app said in a media release.

The Public Service Awareness campaign will stress the importance of wearing masks, social distancing and other COVID-19 safe behaviour even after inoculations. Uber will spread awareness through its app, with messages to educate users across its platform, including riders, driver partners, eaters and courier partners. The company will be distributing in-car placards to driver partners, along with stickers and posters to Uber Eats restaurant partners, to further encourage everyone to follow safety guidelines at all times and drive a collective sense of responsibility.

Speaking about Uber’s efforts, Subodh Sangwan, Head of Sri Lanka, Uber, said, “We want to support the government to get as many Sri Lankans vaccinated and by offering discounted rides we want to help remove any transportation barriers which could prevent residents from travelling safely to vaccine centres. Continuing our commitment to MoveWhatMatters, our public awareness campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Health will reinforce the importance of practicing safe public health behaviors to control COVID-19 so that our communities can quickly recover from the pandemic and rebuild their lives.”

Speaking about the partnership with Uber, Dr. Susie Perera, Deputy Director General, Public Health Services II, Ministry of Health, said, “In Sri Lanka’s fight against COVID-19, public-private partnerships will play a valuable role to help the country move ‘Towards a New Normal’. We are thankful for Uber’s support in leveraging their platform to raise awareness around crucial preventive measures. Support to build favourable public attitudes and behaviours of DReAM (Distancing, Respiratory etiquette, Aseptic technique and Masks) is vital for the COVID-19 response. From the inception, the responsibility taken by Uber in delivering food and essential supplies to citizen’s homes in a safe way is commendable. We look forward to working with Uber in helping Sri Lanka move again."