Providing Japanese Yen Five Hundred and Three Million (Approximately LKR 1.3 bn) Project Grant Assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Project for the Improvement of Infectious Waste Management

 

PRESS RELEASE

“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” is one of the Sustainable Development Goals targeted to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination by the year 2023.  

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that around 15% of healthcare waste produced is considered as hazardous or infectious i.e., medical/clinical waste. Since, standard medical/clinical waste disposal system ensures health and safety of healthcare staff, patients, and visitors from dangerous exposure to medicine and contaminated equipment and sharps etc., proper medical/clinical waste disposal systems are very important in health care institutions to minimize the hazards of healthcare wastes.  The Ministry of Health has identified the importance of strengthening infectious waste management in all government healthcare institutions in Sri Lanka.  

In light with the above, the Government of Japan, as one of our main development partner that provides concessional financing for the country’s socio- economic development, has agreed to grant Japanese Yen five hundred and three million (Approximately LKR 1.3 bn) through JICA to strengthen infectious waste management in government hospitals in Sri Lanka.

The Project aims to strengthen infectious waste management by installing medical waste incinerators in selected public hospitals, thereby contributing to the reduction of health hazards. In order to achieve the above purpose, it has been selected 15 hospitals to install incinerators covering all the provinces in Sri Lanka. 

Under the Project, a total number of 15 incinerators will be provided in two capacities (06 small incinerators units with the treatment capacity of approximately 50 kg/h and 09 large incinerator units with the treatment capacity of approximately 100 kg/h) with LP Gas burners, automatic temperature control systems and compliance with the environment standards. The Project will also provide the necessary technical guidance to the Ministry of Health as a soft component of the project for Training of Trainers (TOT) to maintain the system after the installation of equipment under the Project.

The Exchange of Notes pertaining to the above grant were signed by Mr. K.M Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on behalf of the GOSL and His Excellency Mr. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Government of Japan and the Grant Agreement was signed by Mr. K.M Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on behalf of the GOSL and Mr. YAMADA Tetsuya, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka Office  on April 26, 2023 at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies.

 

Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies

Colombo 01

On April 26, 2023.

 

Press Release | English

Press Release | Sinhala