November 06, Colombo (LNW): India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, and Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala inaugurated a newly constructed surgical unit at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital on November 4. The ceremony was attended by notable officials including Batticaloa Government Agent Muralidharan, Eastern Provincial Health Secretary Sivalingam, and the hospital’s Director, Dr. Kalaranchane Ganeshalingam.
The new facility addresses a longstanding need at the hospital, identified in 2015, to manage an increasing patient load and high demand for surgeries. At the time of proposal, over 1,280 patients were on waiting lists, with limited facilities leading to significant delays. Responding to Sri Lanka’s request, India pledged Rs. 275 million in grant assistance in 2016, later increasing support to Rs. 302 million.
The project involved constructing a two-story building with a floor area of 1,464 square meters, featuring four modern operation theaters and ten ICU beds. Additional essential infrastructure—IT systems, water supply, drainage, and electrical work—was also integrated. Despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic constraints, the project was completed, incorporating additional components like generators and medical gas systems at the hospital’s request.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Mahipala expressed Sri Lanka’s gratitude for India’s vital support, which he noted would meet a crucial healthcare need in the region. Dr. Ganeshalingam highlighted that the unit is expected to reduce surgical waiting lists by 50 percent, benefiting between 3,000 to 5,000 patients annually and significantly improving healthcare access.
High Commissioner Jha discussed a variety of ongoing bilateral projects in Sri Lanka, particularly in the Eastern Province. These include infrastructure and healthcare initiatives, such as the renovation of 4,000 houses under the Indian Housing Project and livelihood support for the fishing community. He emphasized that India committed Rs. 2.35 billion in multi-sectoral grant assistance for Eastern Province development last year, with 33 livelihood projects nearing finalization.
The surgical unit at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital joins a series of India-supported healthcare initiatives across Sri Lanka. Highlights include the Suwa Seriya 1990 ambulance service, a 150-bed multi-specialty hospital at Dickoya, and infrastructure upgrades at Jaffna and other district hospitals. These efforts underscore India’s enduring commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Sri Lanka.
