Japan grants Rs. 1.36 billion to Sri Lanka for medical equipment to combat COVID-19

<p>Japan is to grant Sri Lanka Rs. 1.36 billion in support of the country to secure medical equipment to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>The government of Japan has agreed to grant 800 million Japanese Yen which is equivalent to 1,360 million rupees. The money will be spent on medical equipment such as MRI scanners, CT scanners, Bedside x-ray systems, central monitors, bedside monitors and defibrillators etc, reports the Colombo Page.</p> <p>This grant comes despite raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record as Sri Lanka's president has established a&nbsp;presidential task force, which has been described by the International Commission of Jurists as a “threat to the rule of law”.</p> <p><strong>Read more here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-presidential-…">Sri Lanka’s Presidential Task Force threatens rule of law – International Commission of Jurists</a></strong></p> <p>The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice has called on the international community push back against Sri Lanka’s push towards authoritarianism. Whilst encouraging a push back against Sri Lanka’s authoritarianism, Sri Lanka Campaign emphasises the need for forms of development assistance such as emergency support to civilian agencies which can help with the threat of the coronavirus and ensure that ordinary Sri Lankans are not penalised.</p> <p><strong>Read more here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-slides-authoritarianism…">Sri Lanka slides into authoritarianism – Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice</a></strong></p> <p>Read more from the <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20A/Jun18_1592501557CH.php">Colombo Page.</a></p>