Suwa Arana: Sri Lanka’s first Paediatric Palliative Care Centre opens in Maharagama

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya opens the Suwa Arana Centre

Suwa Arana staff

• Designed as a home away from home for children with cancer
• Free-of-charge residential facility located 50 yards from Apeksha Hospital
• State-of-the-art facility under the umbrella of Indira Cancer Trust

The state-of-the-art six-storey facility includes patient rooms, a rooftop garden, and a specialised kitchen

Facilities at Suwa Arana are free of charge, a home away from home for children with cancer to live with their families

Suwa Arana, Sri Lanka’s first Paediatric Palliative Care Centre recently opened its doors for paediatric cancer patients. Designed on the overarching ethos of being a place for healing, this pioneering project fulfils a dire need in the paediatric palliative care space in Sri Lanka bringing together a holistic environment of supportive care, designed to promote physical, emotional and psychological healing for paediatric cancer patients.  

Suwa Arana’s concepts in its architecture and interiors too go beyond the norm, having been designed in collaboration with healthcare professionals, child life specialists and paediatric experts to ensure efficiency, functionality and most importantly, healing.  

The soothing colour palette, nature-inspired elements, interactive spaces, personalised touches and prioritisation of safety, hygiene, privacy and family togetherness in trying times are well-thought-out elements in this state-of-the-art facility.   

Suwa Arana houses cutting-edge technology and contemporary care services including pain and symptom management, psycho-social support, art and music therapy, end of life and bereavement support, created as a haven for both children and their families.  Within the six-storey facility are four patient floors, in which are 32 en-suite family rooms, a rooftop garden, ground floor dining, specialised kitchen and recreation facilities.

With nearly one thousand children diagnosed with cancer in Sri Lanka, 7 out of 10 are from low-income families. Most cannot afford the cost of medication, transport and accommodation due to their disadvantaged economic circumstances. Suwa Arana creates a home away from home for these children, completely free of charge, in a warm and supportive residential facility.  

The Indira Cancer Trust, which was initiated following the demise of Indira Jayasuriya of cancer at the age of 40 is a collaborative partnership with Sri Lanka Medical Association North American Western Region (SLMANA WR) and a collective of foundations, service organisations and family trusts. The donors for this pioneering Centre for Healing include the Roshan Mahanama Trust, Lions Club International Foundation (Lions District 306B2), MJF Charitable Foundation, Wijerama Family Foundation and The Prince Group, Australia. In addition, invaluable support has been extended by a host of individuals and families to sponsor rooms, which will ensure the Centre’s sustainability going forward. 

 Former Speaker and Member of Parliament SriLankabhimanya Karu Jayasuriya who is the Patron of the Indira Cancer Trust, walked the journey of pain his family suffered on the death of his daughter.  “We made a pledge at the time that we would never allow other parents to go through that pain.  Suwa Arana is truly a place for healing, where we take a holistic approach to care for children who are faced with an unimaginable amount of pain, uncertainty and the snatching away of their childhood.  Their parents are truly helpless with no support system to give them strength.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Suwa Arana Technical Lead, Sequoia Consultants LA President/CEO Chartered Civil Engineer Priyanga De Silva said that he and SLMANA West CEO/President, Good Samaritan Hospital LA Chief of Division of Oncology and Suwa Arana Co-Founder Dr. Lasika Seneviratne had long envisioned building a palliative care facility for cancer patients in Sri Lanka. 

Dr. Seneviratne, who is also a Co-Founder of Suwa Arana presented the proposal for the Centre to the Board of SLMANA WR when the idea was mooted and said: “There was no looking back. The obstacles were many when we started – from shortages to power outages to the economic crisis and I’m so proud of this team that came together and made this dream come true for us.” 

Pix by Upul Abayasekara