"¦I must take this opportunity to reiterate that the Government of Sri Lanka remains passionate and committed towards its stake in The Lanka Hospital Corporation PLC," chairman Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa told shareholders in the annual report.
"As such, allow me to establish GoSL™s (Government of Sri Lanka) interest in your Company as strategic and long-term.
"Lanka Hospitals remains critical to the GoSL for many reasons; primarily its ability to provide world-class medical care whilst balancing the equation of affordability; and the role it plays in uplifting the general standard of living of our citizens.
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Lanka Hospitals, originally built by India's Apollo group and taken over by Sri Lanka Insurance, came under state control after its privatization was reversed by court following a public interest petition.
Sri Lanka's state now runs the country's entire free hospital system funded by taxes as well as one fee-levying hospital which o