Strengthening Healthcare and Environmental Safety: JICA Hands Over Incinerator to Trincomalee District General Hospital

On 5^th September 2025, a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s healthcare and environmental safety journey was marked at the official handover ceremony of an incinerator to Trincomalee District General Hospital. This event was graced by Hon. Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Hon. Governor of the Eastern Province Prof. Jayanthalal Ratnasekera, Hon. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, Hon. Member of Parliament, Trincomalee District Roshan Akmeemana, His Excellency Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka ISOMATA Akio, and Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office KURONUMA Kenji.

The incinerator is provided through JICA’s Grant Aid Project named “the Project for the Improvement of Infectious Waste Management”. The project funded by JICA’s grant in the amount of JPY 503 million was developed in response to the surge in infectious waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed serious risks to healthcare workers, communities, and the environment. A total of 15 incinerators are being distributed to public health facilities across nine provinces in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the ceremony, JICA’s Chief Representative KURONUMA Kenji emphasized the importance of the project as a part of JICA’s four-decade-long cooperation in Sri Lanka’s health sector, mentioning that “the installation of medical infectious waste treatment facilities at 15 hospitals, including this Trincomalee General Hospital, marks a new chapter in Japan’s cooperation in the healthcare sector and serves as a symbol of the enduring friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka.”

This project also supports Sri Lanka’s national initiative, “Clean Sri Lanka,” by promoting responsible waste management practices. The installed incinerators with advanced temperature control and emission treatment system, combined with a comprehensive training program conducted for hospital staff and health authorities under the project, will ensure safe and environmentally sound waste disposal.

JICA reaffirms its commitment in supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to improve healthcare and environmental safety towards sound and healthy livelihoods of people in Sri Lanka.