(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –Japan has provided humanitarian assistance of US$ 46 million in diesel fuel for public hospitals in Sri Lanka as part of US$ 104 million grant assistance in 2022.
The Ambassador of Japan Hideaki Mizukoshi and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardena Wednesday (Feb 22) signed an Exchange of Notes to secure a humanitarian grant of USD 46 million at the Presidential Secretariat, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in attendance.
The purpose of the grant is to provide diesel fuel to public hospitals throughout Sri Lanka.
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 cut 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.
The Government of Japan will provide 20 million liters of diesel fuel through this humanitarian support to help Sri Lanka provide sustainable medical services during the economic crisis, the Embassy of Japan in Colombo said.
Following the signing, Ambassador Mizukoshi paid a courtesy call on President Ranil 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 USD 104 million in grant assistance to Sri Lanka in FY2022, including USD 77.8 million in humanitarian assistance, of which this USD 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.
