Global community pledges US$252 mn to fight COVID- pandemic: Govt.

The global community and organizations have committed to provide USD 252 million (Rs. 45 billion approximately) in cash, goods, medicine and medical equipment to Sri Lanka to fight Covid-19 pandemic, Cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana said yesterday.

Minister Gunawardana told the weekly Cabinet news briefing that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa presented a report to the Cabinet on Wednesday to explain the aid that was given to control Covid 19 by friendly countries and organizations.

The report said the World Bank had committed to provide US$ 128.6 million to Covid-19 Emergency Reaction and Health Sector Preparation Project (CERHSPP) and another US$ 45 million had been paid for the Social Security Network Project.

The CERHSPP had already received US$ 57.5 million out of the total of US$ 128.6 million.

In addition, Sri Lanka has received grants to the value of US$ 75 million and goods, medicine and medical equipment worth US$ 8 million up to now, he added. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)