News
ADB grants Lanka USD 110 Mn for Health Systems Enhancement Project
The Government has decided to borrow a loan amounting to USD 110 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a grant of USD 03 million, provided by ADB-managed Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), to implement the “Additional Financing of Health Systems Enhancement Project”, the Finance Ministry said.
In early 2020, with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, USD 15 million from the ongoing HSEP, was reallocated for the emergency activities related to scaling up of the capacity of molecular biology laboratory, increasing the accessibility to emergency medical equipment at hospitals, expanding high dependency and intensive care units, expanding oxygen accessibility, and increasing the availability of consumables, like surgical masks, personal protection equipment and reagents and other consumables for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and screening of COVID-19.
The additional financing will be used to scale up of the outputs of a well performing ongoing project, addressing the government’s urgent financing requirements to support and manage the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, and the replenishment of above reallocated funds to complete the originally planned activities mainly related to primary healthcare (PHC) development.
The aggregate impact of the original and the additionally financed projects continue to be aligned with the original project impact which is building a healthier nation ensured with a more comprehensive PHC system and to support the COVID-19 pandemic management. The total project cost is estimated as USD 123 million including the Government contribution of USD 10 million. The project is scheduled to be completed by 30th November, 2025.
The relevant Loan Agreement and Grant Agreement for the Additional Financing of Health Systems Enhancement Project, amounting to USD 110 million and USD 3 million respectively, were signed by S R Attygalle, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, on behalf the Government of Sri Lanka and Chen Chen, Country Director, ADB Resident Mission on behalf of ADB.
By Akitha Perera
Discussions between the SJB and the UNP on forming a united front for the upcoming general election had collapsed due to the actions of a senior UNP member, SJB Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar. said.
Markar told The Island that initial talks between the two parties had been progressing smoothly until the intervention of a prominent UNP figure.
The early negotiations were headed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara and UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene. “At one point, I thought the alliance was almost finalised. However, the involvement of the senior UNP member completely derailed the discussions,” Markar said.
The SJB proposed that Wijewardene assume the UNP leadership and Ranil Wickremesinghe be appointed a senior leader. “Wickremesinghe was opposed to this arrangement,” Markar added.
Former Governor Navin Dissanayake revealed on 27 September that MPs who had supported Wickremesinghe in the presidential election had decided to back SJB leader Sajith Premadasa as the prime ministerial candidate.
“At that stage, we thought we were close to an agreement. However, during last few days, the talks have deteriorated, and it now seems unlikely that we will contest the election together,” Markar said.
Nominations for the general election begins today (04) at 22 district election offices across the country with submissions being accepted until noon on 11 October.
By Rathindra Kuruwita
There are between 15,000 and 30,000 street children in the country, according to the last study on the subject, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Professional Forum of Physicians on Medical and Civil Rights, has said.
Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, on Thursday, he said the majority of those children tended to gather near places of worship and large business areas.
Dr. Sanjeewa expressed concern over the vulnerability of the street children, noting that they were often subjected to abuse and easily drawn into transporting narcotics. A significant number also ended up working as sex workers or beggars. He highlighted that many female child sex workers became underage mothers.
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Sri Lanka today and meet the Sri Lankan leadership.
A communique issued by the External Affairs Ministry of India said that in keeping with India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR outlook, the visit underlines the shared commitment of the two countries to further deepen the longstanding partnership for mutual benefit.
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