A state-of-the-art teaching hospital, to serve around 1. 5 million people in the Jaffna district, will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,897 million. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide Rs. 2,447 million and the Sri Lankan Government Rs. 450 million for the project.

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, who visited the construction site in Jaffna, told The Island that the new teaching hospital complex would consist of a three-storeyed building with an administrative unit, wards, diagnosis unit, x-ray clinics, dental clinics, endoscopy unit, ECG, EEG, CT SCAN and ultra sound units.

He said a surgical ward complex and post-surgical ward unit would be located on the first floor. A sophisticated intensive care unit comprising 20 beds, central laboratory, micro-organic clinics and OPD would be located on the second floor.

Minister de Silva said that he was able to get first hand information on the need of a well-equipped hospital and a chain of hospitals located in Chavakachcheri and Point Pedro would be modernized shortly. The existing Jaffna Teaching Hospital was in need of medical equipment and other material. He handed over a stock of essential medical equipment to Minister Douglas Devananda for the use of Jaffna the Hospital.

He said that the international community was jealous of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and was trying to topple the Government with the connivance of some anti-Government elements. A conspiracy to topple the Government had surfaced and no progressive sect would allow such conspiracies to be successful.