RIYADH: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will open a 242-bed epilepsy hospital, which is fully funded by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), in Colombo on Tuesday.
The SR100 million ($26.7 million), 10-story hospital consists of a surgical theater, an intensive care unit, a high-dependency unit, 242-bed male and female wards, and an auditorium for capacity building for the country’s medical staff.
The SFD recently financed an additional SR48 million to buy all necessary equipment including a CT scanner, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment, physical therapy devices and medical furniture.
A four-member SFD delegation has left for Colombo to take part in the event, which will also be attended by Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.
The Saudi team comprises Fawzi Al-Saud, director general of operations; Abdulla Al-Shedokhi, adviser; Bandar Al-Otaibi, engineer from the technical department; and Meshal Al-Najashi, loan researcher at the legal department.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Azmi Thassim told Arab News that SFD's support helped fulfill a long-standing need of the island nation.
He recalled that the fund has been supporting Sri Lankan projects for more than three decades.
“We were able to complete major projects such as the Kinniya bridge with its assistance,” he added.
Saudi-funded SR100m epilepsy hospital opens in Colombo today
Saudi-funded SR100m epilepsy hospital opens in Colombo today
Taif to host Writers & Readers Festival in January
TAIF: The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission has announced that the third edition of the Writers & Readers Festival will be held in Taif from Jan. 9-15, under the theme “Your Presence Matters.”
The selection of the city of Taif comes as an extension of its distinguished cultural standing, as a city listed within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and as the first Creative City of Literature in the Kingdom.
This status reflects Taif’s deep historical and cultural significance and its well-established presence in Saudi Arabia’s literary memory, granting the festival a distinctive dimension that brings together the authenticity of place and the modernity of experience, while strengthening the connection of generations with culture and knowledge.
The programs will feature a diverse lineup of literary sessions, intellectual discussions, and open literary dialogues. In addition, the festival will include innovative educational and youth-focused activities for children and young adults to foster a love of reading from an early age.
The organization of the third edition of the Writers & Readers Festival comes amid the growing cultural momentum witnessed in the Kingdom and the opening of new horizons for creativity and artistic expression.
