Healthy generation vital for country's uplift -President

Rasika Somarathna, A.W.Gunewardene and Thihagoda Group in Matara

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday stated that the government was committed to creating a healthy and strong generation as this was vital for the country's uplift.

He said so after declaring open the state-of-the-art Korea-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital built at Kumburugamuwa in Matara.

The President went on to say that the government has put emphasis on the progress of the health sector with large sums of monies allocated for its development.

He said both free education and free health systems will be maintained at optimum levels while the country is being steered towards progress.

He stressed the government does not expect praise but only considers only the benefits that these development projects bring to the public.

"Thus, it is important that the public reap the maximum benefits from these facilities without misusing them," he added.

The President noted that unlike in the past, all state institutions are today well equipped to deliver an efficient service to the public. The President registered the first patient and donated five luxury ambulances to the hospital.

The Korea-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital is the fifth project that is commissioned for the public under the five-year national health development programme implemented by the Health Ministry from this year.

The Hospital has been built at a cost of Rs.1.27 billion with financial assistance from the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

The government spent Rs. 300 million for the infrastructure facilities of the hospital while the Korea International Cooperation Agency spent Rs. 970 million to build the hospital and purchase equipment.

The two storied building complex comprises an Out Patient Department, Intensive Care Unit, wards, maternal and pediatric unit and surgical units.

In addition the hospital houses the first sports medicine unit in the Southern region.