In accordance with the new directive of His Excellency the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, an opportunity has arisen for Provincial Councils to obtain funds not only through the usual allocations but also through the line ministries of the central government. Therefore, Hon. Governor of the Northern Province N. Vethanayahan has instructed officials to immediately prepare project proposals to secure additional funds from the Ministry of Health to address the needs of the Northern Province’s health sector.
The Governor issued this directive during a special discussion held this evening – on Tuesday 10 February 2026, at the Northern Province Governor’s Secretariat. Hon. Parliamentarian S. Sri Bavanandarajah also participated in this discussion.
During the discussion, the Governor further stated:
His Excellency the President has instructed that funds be allocated to Provincial Councils through line ministries as well. The Finance Commission has also confirmed this. Therefore, by presenting our province’s additional requirements and new projects, we can obtain these funds.
Hon. Parliamentarian S. Sri Bavanandaraja is a member of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee and sub-committees of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, he will take the plans and requests we prepare to the central government and follow up on actions to implement them, the Governor noted.
Following this, the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Health, Regional Directors of Health Services, and the Commissioner of the Indigenous Medicine Department pointed out the resource shortages, challenges faced, and urgent needs in their respective departments.
At this point, Hon. Parliamentarian S. Sri Bavanandaraja stated that when the Oversight Committee meeting of the Ministry of Health is held at the Parliamentary Complex, he would take steps to arrange a special dedicated discussion for the Northern Province Ministry of Health. He assured that by utilizing that opportunity, the province’s health sector needs can be directly presented to the senior officials of the line ministry to obtain solutions.
The discussion was attended by the Governor’s Secretary, the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Health, Regional Directors of Health Services from the Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, and Mannar districts, the Provincial Commissioner of Indigenous Medicine, and others.
