Euro 17,348,240 Austrian loan for Peradeniya hospital

Austria has offered a credit of Euro 17,348,240 for the supply and installation of medical and electro mechanical equipment for the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialised Children’s Hospital, a finance ministry spokesman said.

He said: "This is the second children’s hospital in Sri Lanka. The hospital is located at Peradeniya and has the capacity of 200 beds to provide upto-date medical facilities to the children in the central and adjoining provinces. The construction of the hospital building is being carried out with the government funding and the proceeds of the loan will be utilised to procure equipment for the hospital. With the establishment of this hospital the specialised treatment, which is now available only in Colombo, could be provided at this hospital to the children in the central region."

The loan agreement for this project was signed last Tuesday at the Ministry of Finance. Mr. Htun Aung, Divisional Adviser and Mr. Gorge Karner, Senior Manager signed the agreement on behalf of the Bank of Austria Creditanstalt and Mr. Charitha Ratwatte, Secretary, Ministry of Finance signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, the spokesman said.