Sri Lanka qualifying for the next steps of the IMF agreement is a victory for the whole country...
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to provide further financial assistance to Sri Lanka, and that Sri Lanka qualifying for the next steps of the IMF agreement is a victory for the whole country. He made these comments today (22.03.2024) while attending the foundation stone laying ceremony for the new surgical ward complex at the Avissawella Base Hospital, which is constructed on a proposal made by Member of Parliament Yadamini Ginawardena.
When the construction is completed, this six-storeyed new surgical ward complex will have 600 beds and 8 modern operating theatres. Avissawella Hospital, which directly provides health services to Colombo, Ratnapura, and Kegalle districts, also provides high quality health services to the people of Gampaha and Kalutara districts that are in two sides of the river.
The Prime Minister commented at the event as follows –
“The construction of this new hospital complex is a great step towards the treatment of patients and prevention of diseases and it is a contribution to the entire society.
Recently I met the representatives of the International Monetary Fund. They expressed happiness as Sri Lanka has now reached a certain steady path of development. Accordingly, they said that they agreed to release the future financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund. It will be declared that we have performed well in the upcoming meeting of the IMF Board of Directors. The difficulty lies with us. Because of that difficulty, we had many issues and we are now listed as a country that has well performed. Our affairs were managed very deeply. Therefore, Sri Lanka is qualified to take that next step. It is a victory for the whole country. It was declared that the financial transaction papers opened by us were not accepted in the past. It was a very difficult situation. First we created the confidence to overcome this situation. Then, a systematic progress has been made.
During these two years, the government was able to bring the country that has faced a financial crisis back to its normal state. Hopes of progress exist in every society. No society is ever satisfied. Happiness is the future. We have to work for that. It is a hope in every country of the world. Our country has recovered from this difficult situation and brought it to today’s economic growth rate. Therefore, the time has come to complete the hospital buildings which the construction has started. Financial allocations in the budget have been increased to cover the deficiencies for various services. Among them, the education and health sectors are significant. It has been many years since Avissawella Hospital was marked as a hospital that must be developed.
It is recalled that my dear mother as a Member of Parliament participated in the initial steps of construction of this hospital in Nineteen Fifty Two. Everyone here knows how my dear father as the Minister of Industry started working together with the Minister of Health to complete this hospital complex.
Even now there is a considerable congestion in this hospital. And there are shortcomings too. The agreement was expressed in the special discussion with the Minister of Health to complete them. I and MP Yadamini Gunawardena have recommended providing another modern treatment machine in the hospital from our decentralized fund. It can be delivered within the next month or two. We should all work together to develop the Avissawella Hospital so that the small hospitals in other areas can also make the utmost use of it. Despite the fact that the hospital belongs to the Ministry of Health, the municipal council should provide support for the complete cleanliness around the hospital.
I have discussed with the President to improve the city centre of Sithawaka town. It will start very soon. That energy may be added to the journey to develop the city of Seethawaka as another central city of our country. Not only the government departments but also the private sector in Seethawaka can participate in these activities.
Information technology is more advanced than ever before. Every field is being developed in other countries of the world by making full use of information technology. The field of medicine and surgery has been integrated with information technology and has made great progress.
The Avissawella Hospital, which is being completed step by step, will become another victory for obtaining high quality healthcare services for our province, our district, and Ratnapura and Kegalle districts and for the people of Gampaha District who sometimes come to this hospital across the river.
Western Province Governor Roshan Gunathilake, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, Public Administration Ministry Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne, Colombo District Secretary K. G. Wijesiri, Hospital and health staff including, Director of Avissawella District Hospital Dr Osanda Wellala and the public participated in this event.
Prime Minister’s Media