By Newswire Editorial
Opposition MP Harsha de Silva has expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for providing a Rs. 1.72 billion grant to procure 100 new, fully equipped ambulances for Sri Lanka’s 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service.
De Silva, who pioneered the establishment of the emergency ambulance service, said the announcement brought him immense happiness, comparing it to the feeling of a father witnessing his child’s success.
“Seeing this news brings to my heart a feeling similar to that of a father witnessing the achievement of his child,” he said in a statement.
The MP said his only wish was for the Suwa Seriya service to continue to prosper, while thanking the Indian Government and everyone who contributed towards securing the grant.
He also expressed appreciation for the staff of the ambulance service, acknowledging their dedication to providing emergency medical assistance to the public.
De Silva said there was no need to elaborate on the invaluable contribution made by the service to ordinary Sri Lankans, noting that its importance was already widely recognised.
His comments come after India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday (11) for the latest grant of approximately Rs. 1.72 billion to procure 100 additional ambulances, aimed at strengthening the service and improving emergency response times.
De Silva played a key role in establishing the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service after proposing a modern emergency medical response system in 2015, while serving as Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs.
The service was launched in July 2016 in the Western and Southern provinces with an initial Indian grant of USD 7.5 million, which funded 88 ambulances and an emergency response centre.
It was subsequently expanded across the country with an additional Indian grant of USD 15.02 million, with the islandwide expansion beginning in July 2018.
Suwa Seriya currently operates as a free, 24-hour emergency ambulance service accessible to the public by dialling 1990. (Newswire)