Sri Lanka Approves Rs 1.7Bn Indian Grant for 100 New Suwa Seriya Ambulances 📈

• Grant Details & Structure: • Financial assistance worth Rs 1,725.7 million (Rs 1.725Bn) extended by India as an outright financial grant—not a loan. • Procurement will strictly follow competitive bidding via open tenders rather than direct purchase restrictions. • Fleet Renewal & Needs: • Funds allocated to purchase 100 new, fully equipped medical ambulances to replenish aging vehicles. • Existing fleet of 322 units covers ~9 million kilometers annually, experiencing higher mechanical faults due to heavy wear and tear. • Service Operational Metrics: • The 1990 Suwa Seriya healthcare infrastructure operates 24/7 free of charge across all districts, handling 1,000–1,200 patient transport requests daily. • Service originally launched in 2016 via Indian grant assistance and reached island-wide coverage in 2018. • Ministry of Health will handle personnel recruitment, ongoing maintenance, and operations post-procurement.