Indian aid to expand Suwaseriya Ambulance Service islandwide
The 1990 Suwaseriya Emergency Ambulance Service -- which is currently available in seven provinces -- will be expanded islandwide with Indian grant assistance, the Indian High Commission said yesterday.
The service has been made available in the Northern Province since July; in Uva since August; in North Central Province since September; in Northwestern Province since October and in the Central Province since November 2018. Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the High Commission said the service would also be available in the Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provinces before long. “On the request of the Sri Lankan Government, the service was initially launched in 2016 in the Western and Southern Provinces under an Indian grant of USD
The service can be obtained by simply dialing toll free number ‘1990’ on any network in Sri Lanka. It is the largest Indian grant project in Sri Lanka after the Indian Housing Project
7.56 million. This grant included the purchase of 88 ambulances, operational expenditure of the service for one year and setting up of an emergency response centre,” she said. “Noting the success of the service, the Sri Lankan Government requested India to expand the service islandwide. Accordingly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced -- during his visit to Sri Lanka in May 2017 -- that the service would be expanded islandwide in Sri Lanka under an Indian grant. This pledge has been fulfilled and the service is currently being expanded throughout Sri Lanka with an additional grant of USD 15.02 million, covering the cost of 209 ambulances, training costs and operational expenditure for one year in all seven provinces.”
The service can be obtained by simply dialing toll free number ‘1990’ on any network in Sri Lanka. It is the largest Indian grant project in Sri Lanka after the Indian Housing Project.
India remains committed to further strengthening the bilateral partnership with Sri Lanka based on Sri Lanka’s own choices and priorities, she further noted.