By Walter Jayawardhana

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The World Bank announced , June 24 , it has approved US $ 24 million IDA credit to help it provide health service delivery program with particular emphasis on the special health needs in the country’s war ravaged North and East due to the recent war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
Out of the total Twelve million dollars will go to the Northern and Eastern Provinces to help the Sri Lankan government meet their special health needs arising from the conflict in the region. About 280,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently reside in temporary camps.

“This reflects the bank’s commitment to addressing consequences of the conflict whenever we can,” said Naoko Ishii, World Bank country director for Sri Lanka.

“An upcoming health needs assessment for the north and east will determine the specific activities the project will finance, but it could include mobile clinics at IDP camps, rehabilitation of disabled, treatment of traumatized persons, and other immediate priorities,” Ishii said.

The $24 million is additional financing to Health Sector Development Project, currently financed by an IDA grant of USD 60 million which was approved by the bank on June 15, 2004.