A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for supply of medical equipment to Base Hospital, Deniyaya, was signed by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, and Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe. 

The signing ceremony was graced yesterday (13) by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, according to a statement issued by the Indian High Commission. 

Under this MoU, the Government of India will provide grant assistance of SLR 600 million to equip Deniyaya hospital, which is being relocated by the Government of Sri Lanka as a comprehensive disaster preparedness measure due to its current location in a disaster-prone area. 

According to the High Commission, the relocation of the hospital is projected for completion within three years, with delivery and installation of equipment aligned with the final phases of construction, the statement said.

The project forms part of USD 450 million assistance package announced by the Government of India for reconstruction and rehabilitation measures in Sri Lanka post-Cyclone Ditwah, the statement said.

The grant project encompasses the procurement of state-of-the art medical equipment across multiple critical departments, including general wards, High Dependency Units (HDU), emergency and isolation units, operating theaters, Out-Patient Departments (OPD), laboratories, Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), radiology, blood bank, physiotherapy unit, and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The cooperation in the health sector remains a key pillar in the robust India-Sri Lanka development partnership, the statement said. 

The landmark initiatives in this sector include the island-wide 990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service, construction of multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya, construction of a surgical unit at Batticaloa Teaching hospital, upgrading of Jaffna Teaching Hospital and district hospitals in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. 

Ongoing collaborations also include the construction and supply of medical equipment for the Accident and Emergency Unit at District General Hospital in Mannar and the construction of a four-storied medical ward complex at District General Hospital in Mullaitivu, it added.