Sri Lanka has signed a Rs. 15 billion loan agreement with Japan to improve Sri Lanka's health and medical services. This development took place following the Japan-Sri Lanka summit meeting in Tokyo recently.

Japan's Ambassador in Sri Lanka Kenichi Suganuma and Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Tokyo Prof. Dammika Ganganath Dissanayake signed and exchanged notes concerning the provision of a loan up to 10.639 billion yen for the Health and Medical Service Improvement Project.

The project is being financed to improve the medical facilities and equipment in tertiary healthcare institutions and training centers for medical staff, as well as strengthening the maintenance of medical equipment in the Western, Northwestern, Central, North Central, Eastern and Uva Provinces in Sri Lanka.

The project is expected to enhance medical services relating to the diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially cardiovascular diseases. It is expected that improved access to medical care will contribute to improving the health conditions of residents.