The Ministry will be the executing agency for the Project and the implementation agency for the Project within the Uva Province is the Uva Provincial Council. Within the Eastern Province is the Eastern Provincial Council and within the Northern Province is the Northern Provincial Council.

The Ministry of Finance will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the respective Provincial Councils in this regard. The Project Implementation Units will be established under the Ministry of Local Government and the Provincial Councils.

The total cost of this Project is US $ 105 Million and it is scheduled to be commenced from 31st March 2010 for a period of 05 years. The total Cost of the Project will be financed by the World Bank.

This Project will comprise of 03 components and brief descriptions of them are indicated below.

Part A - Rehabilitation of Provincial Roads
Upgrading and rehabilitation of approximately 150 kms of Provincial Roads and other road infrastructures in selected and prioritized areas in the Uva Province (US $ 50 M)

Upgrading and rehabilitation of approximately 100 kms of Provincial Roads and other road infrastructure in selected and prioritized areas in the Ampara District, Eastern Province (US $ 20 M)

Upgrading and rehabilitation of approximately 100 kms of Provincial Roads and other road infrastructure in selected and prioritized areas in the Jaffna District, Northern Province (US $ 20 M)

Part B - Maintenance Programme (US $ 10 million)
Development and implementation of an effective maintenance strategy including carrying out of routine, preventive and emergency maintenance for the network of paved roads in the Uva Province, Eastern Province and Northern Province

Part C - Implementation Support and Capacity Building (US $ 5 million)
Strengthening of the capacity of the Provincial Road Developments through the provision of technical assistance.

Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of clinical waste disposal systems for Sri Lankan hospitals under Belgium assistance

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Healthcare & Nutrition Nimal Siripala De Silva to award the contract to M/s. AMB S.A., Avenue Wilson, B-7012 MONS, Belgium at costs of Euro 9,000,000 and for the MOH to enter into a Commercial Contract with M/s. AMB S.A. of Belgium.

It is expected to direct External Resources Department (ERD) to enter into a Loan Agreement with Government of Belgium to execute the project.

The Government of Belgium has pledged to the Government of Sri Lanka Euro 9,968,400.00 to procure clinical waste disposal equipment. This loan comes on a concessionary interest rate of 01.0% per annum with a repayment period of 13 years, including 27 months of draw-down period

Courtesy: GDI