Project Steering Committee for Construction of Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) met with the Construction of Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital Batticaloa under the guidance of Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob, at the High Commission of India on 19 August, in order to review the progress of the implementation of the project. 

The meeting was attended by the officials of the High Commission of India, Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Department of External Resources and Department of Project Management and Monitoring of Ministry of Finance, a Project Consultant from Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) and Contractor from Malwatte Constructions.

The project worth Rs. 262 Million is being implemented as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) in Sri Lanka. The modernisation and improvement of infrastructure for surgeries will benefit the people in and around Eastern Province. 

India remains committed to further strengthening the health infrastructure of Sri Lanka by implementing grant projects like the 1990 Suwaseriya Emergency Ambulance Service and the construction of sanitation units in Batticaloa. 

India donated 25 tons of emergency medicine and medical kits during COVID-19 pandemic to Sri Lanka. A special assistance of US$ 1 million through the SAARC Development Fund is also being provided for the setting up of a COVID-19 isolation ward for the National Hospital in Kandy.

These projects are in continuation of Government of India’s people-oriented development cooperation with the Government of Sri Lanka. India’s overall commitment of development assistance to Sri Lanka stands at a total of around Rs. 517 billion and among these, Rs. 92 billion under grants.