NECORD's ambulance gift boosts NE Health services

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 April 2003, 12:09 GMT]
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration and Community Development Project (NECORD) Saturday handed sixteen ambulances to the provincial ministry of health to upgrade the health services in the war-torn northeast province.

NECORD Project Director Mr. T.Lankaneson (R) hands over documents related to ambulances to NE Provincial Health Ministry Secretary Mr.Ratnaike

NECORD Project Director Mr.T.Lankaneson handed the documents related to the sixteen ambulances to the Provincial Health Ministry Mr.M.S.Ratnaike at a function held in this regard in Trincomalee Saturday morning.

The ambulances are to be given to health and medical institutions in seven of the eight districts of the province as instructed by the NECORD, sources said. The Ampara and Mannar district are to get four each, Vavuniya district three, Batticaloa district two, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Killinochchi get one each, provincial health ministry sources said.

Addressing the function, the Chief Secretary of the North East Provincial Council, Mr.S.Rangarajah, said no visible improvement has been seen in the development and rehabilitation of the war torn northeast province even after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.




Ambulances parked at the venue of handing over ceremony



NEPC was not in the forefront of the rehabilitation of the province earlier. "Now we are already in the field of rehabilitation with the establishment of ADB funded NECORD and the World Bank funded North East Integrated Agricultural Project (NEIAP) and North East Emergency Rehabilitation Project (NEERP)," said Mr.Rangarajah participating as the chief guest at the event.

The three projects play a vital role in the rehabilitation and development of the northeast province and these are unique projects. "NECORD is accelerating implemention of several development projects in the province more than any other agency, the Chief Secretary commended.


(L-R) NE governor's secretary Mr.S.Amirthalingam, Provincial Health Secretary Mr.Ratnaike, NEPC Chief Secretary Mr. Rangarajah, NECORD Project Director Mr.Lankaneson, Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance ) Mr.S.mahalingam



The Chief Secretary made a special appeal to officials involved in the rehabilitation and development in the war torn province to rise to the occasion.

Project Director of the NECORD Mr.T.Lankaneson and Provincial Health Ministry Secretary Mr.M.S.Ratnaike also spoke. Provincial Director of health Services of Health Dr.V.Kumaravetpillai proposed vote of thanks.

A fourteen-seater vehicle was handed over to the Provincial Director of Social Welfare Ms N.R.Ranjini to be given to Kaithady Elders Home in Jaffna district, sources said.