China is to help Sri Lanka establish clinics affiliated to the main kidney hospital in Sri Lanka in an effort to help fight the chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Chinese Ambassador for Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang told.

At a meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday (30) he further said that China had always supported Sri Lanka to improve the quality of drinking water and deal with the CKD problem.

The Chinese Ambassador and other heads of Colombo-based diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations were invited to attend the meeting presided by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss how to deal with CKD.

At that meeting, Ambassador Yi stated that China has taken some significant measures to help Sri Lanka in this field and will continue to carry out these measures.

During the past three years, experts from the Chinese Academy of Science had visited Sri Lanka and studied the water quality in certain areas. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Chinese Academy of Science and the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka when President Maithripala Sirisena paid a state visit to China in March 2015, according to Yi.

He added that China agreed to provide grant assistance to establish a kidney hospital at the request of Sri Lanka government when President Maithripala Sirisena visited China in March 2015.

Considering the local conditions, Ambassador Yi also suggested that clinics affiliated to the kidney hospital be established in some other districts. Discussions are now underway to look at the possibility of establishing such clinics, he told.

President Sirisena, in response, appreciated the efforts made by China and requested the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Urban Development and Drainage to keep close communication with the Chinese government with regards to the projects.

(Xinhua)