Japanese aid to Sri Lanka

Japan established diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka in 1954 and joined the Colombo Plan in 1954. Since then, more than 14,000 Sri Lankan public officials have benefited from training programmes while 3,000 Japanese experts and 1,100 volunteers have been sent to Sri Lanka.

The first grant aid to Sri Lanka was in 1969. It has contributed towards upgrading medical facilities, including the Peradeniya Hospital’s gynaecology and paediatric units and the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The 1,001-bed Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital was constructed. The State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation was established at the industrial estate in Ratmalana. Base, provincial and general hospitals around the country received medical equipment.

A modern laboratory complex at the Medical Research Institute and the building complex, test equipment and tools for the Health Ministry’s Biomedical Engineering Services and a provincial workshop at the Galle Teaching Hospital was set up.

Water treatment and purification facilities around Sri Lanka were rehabilitated.

In 1979, a TV broadcasting system was established as the first phase of the national television network. In 1984, 1.4bn yen was spent on expanding the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Studio. It helped install a shortwave radio broadcasting station in Ekala, Ja-ela. A multipurpose studio with FM transmission equipment for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, heavy machinery for road construction and buses have been gifted.

The old Victoria Bridge was replaced. The Kirinda fisheries harbour was upgraded. The Plant Genetic Resources Centre and National Plant Quarantine Services were set up. A training centre in Maharagama that is today the National Institute of Education was funded.