Japan provides $ 46 m for diesel fuel for public hospitals

• Initiative as part of $ 104 m grant assistance in 2022

Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi yesterday signed an Exchange of Notes for the Humanitarian Grant assistance of $ 46 million in providing diesel fuel for public hospitals across the country with Treasury Secretary K.M.M. Siriwardana in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Amidst the fuel shortage due to the economic crisis, 1,180 public hospitals across the island have been forced to suspend medical services during power cuts and non-emergency medical operations. Life-saving services have also been hampered by fuel shortages for ambulances and medical transport vehicles carrying emergency patients, medical staff and equipment.

Japan will provide 20 million litres of diesel fuel through this humanitarian support to help Sri Lanka provide sustainable medical services during the economic crisis.

Following the signing, Ambassador Mizukoshi paid a courtesy call on President Wickramasinghe and assured Japan’s commitment to provide necessary support to help Sri Lanka overcome the economic crisis and achieve sustainable economic growth. Ambassador Mizukoshi also stated that Japan has provided a total of $ 104 million in grant assistance to Sri Lanka in FY2022, including $ 77.8 million in humanitarian assistance, of which this $ 46 million as fuel assistance.

“This is the highest amount of annual grant assistance by the Japanese Government to Sri Lanka in its history, and testament to Japan’s strong commitment for its continued solidarity with Sri Lanka in the midst of the current economic crisis,” he added.