China funds special hospital for kidney diseases
The Chinese government will be investing in the construction of a special hospital for kidney diseases within three years in Polonnaruwa.
Chinese Ambassador Yi Xianliang told a media conference in Colombo this week that his government has made a donation to Sri Lanka amounting to Yen 5 billion and would be funding the construction of a special hospital for kidney diseases costing US$100 milion in Polonnaruwa.
He made these observations at the event held to hand over 150 eye lenses and cartridges by the China Merchant Charity Foundation, the charity arm of the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) to the Sri Lanka College of Ophthalmologists on Tuesday.
He pointed out that this hospital would be established within three years and that it would also have branch hospitals in about six provinces around the country.
The CICT as part of its corporate social responsibility has donated 150 foldable hydrophobic single piece/multi piece intraocular lenses and cartridges for 150 cataract surgeries to be performed at the National Eye Hospital in Colombo at a cost of about Rs.8.2 million or US$60, 000.
This was carried out through a programme launched titled C Blue Sight sponsored by the CHG in improving local eye care services as the CICT has mostly Sri Lankans working at the terminal, CMG President and Director Li Xiaopeng said.
Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne stated that this donation would help prevent blindness due to cataract which is a major issue worldwide. He also spoke of the bilateral relations between the two countries adding that Sri Lanka was one of the first to recognize liberal China.
College of Ophthalmologists President Dr. Pradeepa Siriwardena said at the event that this would help restore vision for the underprivileged in the country.