COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition on Friday defeated a no-confidence motion against the country's health minister who has been accused of allegedly failing to secure enough essential drugs and laboratory equipment that some say resulted in preventable deaths in hospitals.
The motion was initiated by opposition lawmakers who claimed Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella's actions had ruined the health sector.
Sri Lanka’s total debt has exceeded $83 billion, of which $41.5 billion is foreign.
Sri Lanka has secured a $3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund and is taking steps to restructure its domestic and foreign debts.
Amid the crisis, thousands of Sri Lanka are leaving the country for better paying jobs abroad, including about 1,500 doctors who have left over the last year, according to a union.
Persons:
Lanka’s, Keheliya, Rambukwella, Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Organizations:
Friday, Health Ministry, Sri, International Monetary Fund
Locations:
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka