Rs. 520m grant to improve health sector

The Japanese Government will grant Rs. 520 million under its Non Project Grant Aid to Sri Lanka, strengthening its long-term economic cooperation with the island.

The Sri Lankan Government will use the grant to provide advanced medical equipment to health care facilities to improve their services and uplift the health standards of the public, especially of those in emerging areas of the country, according to the Finance and Planning Ministry.

With the grant assistance, the Sri Lankan Government will purchase essential bio-medical equipment manufactured in East Japan, especially in the Tohoku region.

This advanced equipment will be distributed to rural, urban and national hospitals in the country, with the aim of enhancing the quality of health services provided to the people.

The Sri Lankan Government said the great earthquake that hit East Japan in 2011 caused severe damage to the local economy and this grant scheme will mutually benefit both the people and the economies of the Tohoku region and Sri Lanka as well.

The signing of the agreement related to the grant took place last Thursday at the Ministry premises in Colombo.

Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Japan while Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning Dr. P.B. Jayasundera signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.