Cabinet approves Rs. 7 b of Japanese assistance

Cabinet last week approved a series of projects entailing Japanese assistance worth nearly Rs. 7 billion.

The Government said the Japanese Government has agreed to provide a loan of Japanese Yen 3935 million (approximate Rs.5509 million) through JICA for the Project for Improvement of Basic Social Services in Developing Regions in the country

The following are to be implemented under this project:

Expansion of the production capacity of the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation:  four new manufacturing machines along with other processing machinery are to be installed to enhance the production of tablets up to 4000 million per annum to meet the requirement of the government.

Strengthening of Secondary Hospitals and providing modern and quality care services: Selected secondary hospitals in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and North Central Province are to be upgraded with the required facilities to function as core hospitals in the region.

In addition, 124 Ambulances are to be provided to hospitals in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, North Central, UVa, Eastern and Northern Provinces.

The proposal made by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and planning to enter into a loan agreement for the purpose with JICA, was approved by the Cabinet.

The Government of Japan has also agreed to provide grant assistance in a sum of Japanese Yen 48,400,000 (Approximately Rs.70,180,000) through JICA, for the purpose of the Improvement of .Japanese Language Learning in the Sri Lankan Universities.

The main objective of the project is to develop essential infrastructure facilities at these Universities so as to produce professionally competent graduates to cope with the emerging needs of the country.

The proposal made by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to enter into a grant agreement with JICA for the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet.

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant assistance in a sum of Japanese Yen 300 million (Approximately Rs.420 million) through JICA to procure Industrial Equipment produced in Japan, to promote economy and social development in Sri Lanka.

The grant assistance will be utilized for the procurement of the following:

Medical Equipment - will be provided to Teaching Hospitals, Secondary Hospitals and Medical Research Institutes, to improve existing facilities.

Water Purification Equipment - will be used to provide safe drinking water to the people living in areas where there is a scarcity for water and areas affected by disasters.

Excavators - will be provided for provincial and rural “road development activities.

The above proposal made by President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to enter into a grant agreement with JICA, was approved by the Cabinet.

 The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance in a sum of Japanese Yen 677 million (Approximately Rs.982 million) through JICA for rehabilitation activities of the Kilinochchi Water Supply Scheme.

The main objective of the project is to reduce waterborne deceases and uplift the health standards of the people in the Kilinochchi District, by improving water purification facilities in the area and restoring operational activities of the existing water supply scheme in the District which was damaged during the conflict period.

Under this project, it is expected to construct a new water intake, a raw water transmission line from the intake, a water treatment plant and two water towers at Kilinochchi and Paranthan.

A distribution pipeline covering approximately 42 km, will be constructed to distribute water to Paranthan and Iranamadu, benefiting over 20,000 people living in 14 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Kilinochchi District.

The proposal made by President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to enter into a grant agreement with JICA, was approved by the Cabinet.