According to the statistics of the World Health Organization 75% of the mortality in Sri Lanka is caused by NCDs and cardiovascular diseases in particular are the leading cause of mortality accounting for 40% of the total. To address the issue, the GOSL has decided to implement the Health and Medical Service Improvement Project to prevent NCDs by improving the facilities of tertiary care hospitals in Anuradhapuura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Badulla and Trincomalee.

As a result of bilateral discussion had with Government of Japan (GOJ), the GOJ has agreed to provide concessional loan amounting to Japanese Yen 10,639 million ( approximately Rs. 15 500 million) under the Special terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of the Health and Medical Service Improvement Project.

This project will expect to improve the diagnosis and treatment of non- communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases by improving the medical facilities and equipment in tertiary hospitals. The facilities of the Bio Medical Engineering Services Unit of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (MOH) and the training institutions for the Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) will be upgraded with new technologies.

The project will be implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine and it is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Exchange of Notes of the above project was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Japan during the HE the Presidents visit to Japan in March 2018.

The signing of loan agreement pertaining to the above project took place today, at the Ministry of Finance & Mass Media.

Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Secretary, Ministry of Finance & Mass Media on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Mr. Fusato Tanaka, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka office on behalf of JICA signed the above Loan Agreement.