President opens new state-of-the-art military hospital

Tuesday, 6 May 2014 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared open the new largest state-of-the-art military hospital in Narahenpita. At the invitation of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, the President, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion, accompanied by Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa, unveiled a plaque and ceremonially opened the new Army Hospital. The President also took an observation tour in the hospital complex built at a cost of Rs. 1.54 billion to provide health services to the members of tri forces and police and their families as well as retired military personnel and their family members. The 10-storeyed military hospital complex at Narahenpita, comprising 21 wards and 1024 beds will be the largest military hospital in South Asia. Engineers and the technicians of the Engineer Services Regiment of Sri Lanka Army were entrusted in constructing the facility. The hospital, equipped with another Rs. 2 billion worth state-of-the-art medical equipment can accommodate more than 1,000 patients per day in its Outpatient Department (OPD). In addition to the large OPD section, the complex is complete with Sterilisation and Supply Division (SSD) facilities, MRI scanning facilities, a roof-top chopper pad, automatic x-ray screening machines, two modular operation theatres, Pathology Laboratory, Radiology Unit, Dermatology Unit, Medical Air and Nurses calling facilities, labour room, 12 dental surgery units, a cafe and an auditorium with 314 seats for lectures.

The new hospital will be manned by Army medical staff, beginning from today. Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena, Deputy Minister of Health Lalith Rohana Dissanayake, Governor of Western Province Alavi Mowlana, Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present at the occasion.