The Government yesterday announced $ 175 million funding from the Asian Development Bank to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve overall health in the country.

The Government said Sri Lanka had been supplied with $ 50 million, inclusive of a loan of $ 37.5 million and a grant of $ 12.5 million, by the ADB to implement the ‘Health System Enhancing Project’ aimed at widening the primary health services system.

Taking into consideration the pandemic, $ 15 million out of that has already been allocated for COVID-19 mitigation.

Apart from that, the ADB has given its consent to releasing additional financing of $ 125 million under the ‘Health System Enhancing Project’ to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday granted approval for the proposal put forth by the Health Minister to proceed with discussions with the ADB to obtain funding. 

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