Colombo (LNW): The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a ten-storey building for the Professorial Unit of the Faculty of Medicine at Uva Wellassa University commenced on Sunday, November 26th, at the Badulla Teaching Hospital premises.
The construction, with a financial allocation of Rs. 2.26 billion, is overseen by the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) and is expected to be completed by December 2025.
Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena officially announced the conversion of Badulla Provincial General Hospital into a teaching hospital, affiliated with the Uva Wellassa University Medical Faculty. Additionally, the hospital’s new website was launched, and staff appreciation awards were presented during the event.
The Professorial Unit, comprising several units within a fully equipped teaching hospital, offers teaching, training, and clinical services in Clinical Surgery. The government plans to establish specialist units in physical medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry within the Professorial Unit, with assigned teachers and professors for medical courses.
The establishment of the eleventh Faculty of Medicine in Sri Lanka at Badulla Uva Wellassa University led to the decision to construct a Professorial Unit, as there was no existing unit for degree courses for medical students enrolled in this faculty. The inaugural enrollment of 50 medical students is set for February 2024.
Dr. Jayantha Balawardena has been appointed as the first chancellor of Uva University by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The construction began under the patronage of Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, and with the blessings of Minister of Health and Industries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana.
Several dignitaries, including State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Minister of State for Education A. Aravinda Kumara, Governor of Uva Province J. M. Muzammil, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga, Health Ministry Deputy Director General (Supply) Dinipriya Herath, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Ajith Mendis, Badulla Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Upul Karunaratne, and Uva University Chancellor consultant oncologist Dr. Jayantha Balawardena, participated in the event.
