The Ambulance Service within Sri Lanka currently falls under the Ministry of Health.

It is said that the public is required to register with the company to obtain its services after the service is handed over.

According to reports, the agreement was made during the Prime minister's Indian tour and that India had agreed to provide a grant of US$ 7.6 million for the launch of the first stage covering the Western and Southern Provinces.

Indian model

Accordingly, the Emergency Ambulance Health Protection Service will be set up on the lines of the Indian model of “108 Emergency Response Services” and the Indian government is to provide 88 ambulances.

Under the Indian system, those who require emergency medical attention - pregnant women, infants, children, trauma (accidents, cardiac arrest and others) and other patients – are taken to the nearest hospital within the “golden hour,” after dialing the telephone number ‘108.’

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Health ministry said that the Indian government is providing the above assistance free of charge and the project is aimed at “enhancing ties” between the two countries.

Meanwhile, it is said that Falck, the world's largest ambulance provider, is scrapping its operations in Sri Lanka.