India backed emergency ambulance service now available across Sri Lanka
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A video recorded message of EAM Dr Jaishankar was played who described it as a 'great example of what India and Sri Lanka can achieve together'
India's 1990 emergency ambulance service in Sri Lanka which played a crucial role in the aftermath of the recent terror attacks is now available throughout the nine provinces of the Indian Ocean Island country.
The last phase of the project was launched on Sunday by Sri Lankan ministers and Indian high commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu in Ampara, the eastern province of the country.
The Sri Lankan ministers present at the launch were--Daya Gamage, Minister of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment, Dr Harsha de Silva Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution and Anoma Gamage, Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development.
A video recorded message of EAM Dr Jaishankar was played who described it as a "great example of what India and Sri Lanka can achieve together."
The ambulance service which can be obtained by dialling toll-free number 1990 was requested by Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe during the visit of PM Modi in March 2015.
It came into existence in July 2016 with its launch in southern and western provinces of the country and under the initial Indian grant of $ 7.5 million.
It was later expanded phase wise from May 2017 to a massive expansion in many provinces in 2018. It is the largest Indian grant project in Sri Lanka after the Indian Housing Project.
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