Japan has agreed to provide $ 38 million to purchase fuel, mainly diesel, to carry out uninterrupted essential and emergency health services, Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardene said yesterday.

“The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to provide five billion Japanese Yen, or roughly $ 38 million, to improve Sri Lanka’s healthcare delivery system by ensuring essential services and transportation facilities,” he said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe for Sri Lanka to ink necessary agreements with the JICA to obtain the said Grant.

“The health sector is facing a huge financial crisis,” he added. 

Gunawardena also said Sri Lanka has reached out to the international community for assistance and President Wickremesinghe had informed the Cabinet that an additional Rs. 10 billion had been allocated to supply essential medicines and equipment amidst the acute shortage in the country. 

Indian line of credit to import urgently required essential pharmaceuticals