US supports transport and healthcare in Eastern Province

In support of two important sectors in the Eastern Province – transportation and healthcare – the United States renovated a bus depot in Vakarai, handed over newly refurbished buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and provided a new incinerator to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.

This assistance, provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will ease transportation hassles faced by Eastern Province residents, as well as ensure cleaner, safer healthcare for the 360,000 annual patients at the only teaching hospital in the province.

Complementing the Government of Sri Lanka’s investment in infrastructure development, the project also trained SLTB staff in motor repair and mechanics to ensure that the buses remain in good shape. “Vakarai residents can now reach schools, hospitals, courts and have increased access to markets without difficulty,” said James Bednar, Director of USAID in Sri Lanka.  “And by supporting Batticaloa’s healthcare, we hope to improve the quality of life for thousands of families in the surrounding communities.”