WHO to give Lanka US$ 2 million as immediate relief

    The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Alaka Singh called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office and assured him of the organization's full support to overcome Sri Lanka's medical crisis and added that US$ 2 million will be given in the first phase of the assistance program. Dr. Singh said that she was confident Sri Lanka would be able to resolve the medicine shortage by July, or August under the new health programme implemented by the current Government. She stressed that the WHO is committed to improving the nutritional needs of infants and pregnant mothers. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appreciated the support extended by the World Health Organisation to improve the health standards of Sri Lanka as well as the support extended by many countries, including India and Bangladesh. Chairperson of the special committee appointed by the Prime Minister to propose measures to alleviate the shortage of medicines, Ruwan Wijewardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake and Medical Technical Services Director of the Ministry of Health Dr. Anwar Hamdani also took part in the discussion.