China is to help Sri Lanka establish clinics affiliated to the main kidney hospital in Sri Lanka in an effort to help fight the chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
At a meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador Yi Xianliang said that China always supported Sri Lanka to improve the quality of drinking water and deal with the CKD problem.
The Chinese Ambassador and other heads of Colombo-based diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations were invited to attend the meeting presided by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss how to deal with CKD.
At that meeting, Ambassador Yi said China has taken some significant measures to help Sri Lanka in this field and will continue to carry out these measures.
During the past three years, experts from the Chinese Academy of Science had visited Sri Lanka and studied the water quality in certain areas. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Chinese Academy of Science and the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka when President Maithripala Sirisena paid a state visit to China in March 2015, according to Yi.
The ambassador also said that Chinese companies have completed several water supply projects aimed at providing clean drinking water to local people while some projects are still being implemented with the support of preferential loans and commercial loans from China.
He added that China agreed to provide grant assistance to establish a kidney hospital at the request of Sri Lanka government when President Maithripala Sirisena visited China in March 2015.
Considering the local conditions, Ambassador Yi also suggested that clinics affiliated to the kidney hospital be established in some other districts. Discussions are now underway to look at the possibility of establishing such clinics.
President Sirisena, in response, appreciated the efforts made by China and requested the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Urban Development and Drainage to keep close communication with the Chinese government with regards to the projects.
China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGEC) has completed 18 urban water supply and drainage projects in Sri Lanka since 1994, which provide clean drinking water and sewage disposal service for more than 30 cities and towns, and employ over 20,000 local workers.
