COLOMBO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved 150 million Unftgamemakemoney.S. dollars in financing for Sri Lanka to improve the quality and utilization of its primary healthcare services, according to a statement on Monday.

The World Bank said the project will help improve quality of care and increase the use of primary medical care institutions, which provide essential health services to local communities.

Capacity challenges and absence of a formal referral mechanism have led to the underutilization of primary healthcare facilities and overcrowding in tertiary care facilities in Sri Lanka, according to the statement.

The previous World Bank supported project already enhanced 550 Primary Medical Care Institutions with essential equipment, medicines, health workers and basic laboratory testing facilities.

The new project will scale up these efforts to cover 100 percent of Primary Medical Care Institutions across all districts of Sri Lanka, expanding to over 1,000 facilities with a more comprehensive service package and improved quality of care, it said.■