The “COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund” established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last Monday (March 23) has been vested with a set of wide responsibilities.
Creating the Fund President Rajapaksa donated Rs. 100 million from the President’s Fund for strengthening the mitigation activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and related social welfare program.
A special account had been opened at the Corporate Branch of the Bank of Ceylon under the account number of 85737373, stated President’s Media Division.
The Fund has been set up to meet the following objectives:
- To provide immediate funding requirements of Director General of Health Services in meeting all expenditure connected with COVID-19 related healthcare facilities including drugs, testing equipment, and capacity expenses
- To meet expenses connected to healthcare and safety of health sector employees and all logistic providers working to provide essential public delivery services
- To provide basic essentials to children, women, the low-income, elderly, differently-abled and vulnerable people
- To mobilize required funding to strengthen public healthcare systems, including village and remote area dispensaries, testing and treatment centers, family healthcare system, to further consolidate Sri Lanka’s public healthcare system to reduce country risks to communicable diseases
- To assist indigenous medicine, sanitary product manufacturing and distribution, promote research to use resources, knowledge, and skills to innovate new health and sanitation products based on local raw materials
- To promote research and innovation using Sri Lanka’s medical and scientific knowledge and experience to develop protective dresses and sanitation products to the global market
- To promote healthy living with organic food consumption, valuing traditional, yet rich living styles, through media and educational programs
- To coordinate fundraising with WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, ADB, and Sri Lanka’s major development partner community and agencies based on best guidelines for resource allocations, harmonized national procurement system, and governance practices
The Fund will be managed under a management committee consisting of relevant Line Ministry Secretaries, Bankers, Financial Analysts and Health authorities.
