Govt. rolls out India-funded ambulance service; 600 jobs for locals: Harsha

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Marking the beginning of the new Indian Emergency Ambulance Care Service in Sri Lanka Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday said it would provide around 600 jobs for Sri Lankans.

The Indian Government has agree to provide nearly Rs.1 billion as assistance to offer 300  ambulances to be utilised for an island-wild emergency service within the aim of taking patients or accident victims to a hospital within a few minutes.

The Sri Lankan Government yesterday embarked the program in the Western province by recruiting the first batch of drivers for this service with the participation of Indian representatives. Initially 88 ambulances will be rolled out in Western and Southern provinces. 

The project is carried out by the Ministry of Health with technical assistance from GVK EMRI, (Emergency Management and Research Institute) a pioneer in Emergency Management Services in India.

Speaking at the occasion Dr. de Silva said entire job opportunities which will be provided from each step of this service will be offered only for Sri Lankans.

“Some people tried to spread false information over this service and claimed the Government is going to recruit Indian employees. I assured there will be only locals as drivers,” he stressed.