Hon. Dr. Jayatissa, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Abayarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and Ambassador ISOMATA visit JDR Medical Team’s operation site in Chilaw to express gratitude and encouragement

On 12th December, H. E. Akio ISOMATA, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, visited the field hospital set up and operated by the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team in Chilaw, together with Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media and Hon. Dr. A. H. M. H. Abayarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. Mr. Kenji KURONUMA, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office also joined the site visit.
 
During the site visit, Hon. Ministers and the Ambassador were briefed by the team on the ongoing medical activities. The JDR field hospital has been in operation since 4th December, and as of 11th December, has treated 923 patients in total from the local communities.

Hon. Minister Jayatissa expressed his appreciation for the team’s tireless and dedicated service and offered words of encouragement to the entire team of 29 professionals from Japan and 15 local interpreters working who supported the team’s operation.

Ambassador ISOMATA remarked, “I am glad to see the JDR Medical Team has been making substantial contributions to providing much-needed assistance in one of the most heavily impacted areas in terms of access to medical services. I would like to appreciate the dedicated efforts of each and every member of the team, and at the same time, thank the Ministry of Health, the Sri Lankan Police and all other government and other agencies, as well as the people of Sri Lanka, for extending support to the team’s activities. As Sri Lanka moves on from the stage of emergency relief to the next phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction, Japan continues to extend its maximum assistance to the people of Sri Lanka in a seamless manner. Japan stands in solidarity with Sri Lanka based on the strong bond of friendship, trust and respect.”

Separately from the medical services provided by the JDR Medical Team, emergency relief goods, such as tents, blankets, sleeping pads, water purifiers and jerry cans, have been provided earlier through JICA to mitigate the difficulties of the displaced and distressed people in the affected areas, including Kandy, Matale, Badulla.
 
The Government of Japan remains firmly committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s disaster response and nation-building efforts in close coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka.