The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) At the Mullaitivu District General Hospital, the male and female wards are currently housed in two temporary buildings.

¶ 03 (ii) With Indian assistance, a multi-storeyed ward complex is planned. The necessary approvals to implement the project have been obtained, and the related Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed shortly. An MoU for constructing the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Mannar District General Hospital with Indian assistance has already been signed; this agreement will be signed next.

¶ 04 (iii) The soil investigation for the proposed four-storey ward complex has been completed, and the report from Soil and Mineral Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd. was provided on 2024.06.24.

¶ 05 (b) (i) As this building is to be constructed under a bilateral understanding between two countries, an intergovernmental MoU must be signed. For that, concurrence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as from the Attorney General’s Department must be obtained, and Cabinet approval must also be secured. Once these steps are completed, procurement procedures will be followed and construction will commence.

¶ 06 (ii) Not applicable.

¶ 07 (c) Does not arise.