Army Troops to Erect Two New Dengue Wards in Less than 10 Days

In accordance with the declaration of a three-month period, dedicated exclusively for eradication of Dengue epidemic, as announced by HE the President, Sri Lanka Army troops on the directions given by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva, immediately launched a project to set up two separate isolated wards for Dengue patients at Colombo South Teaching Hospital (Kalubowila) and Colombo North Teaching Hospital (Ragama) premises.

Considering the worsening epidemic situation, Army personnel of the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West), commanded by Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Forces - West (SF-West), together with Engineer Brigade troops, commanded by Major General Dananjith Karunaratne, Chief Field Engineer undertook the formidable task of constructing those two wards within a matter of 10 days since both those hospitals find it difficult to cope with the increasing number of Dengue admissions.

The initiative, launched in close coordination with the Ministry of Health, Epidemiology Unit and other authorities is expected to ease the prevailing congestion in those hospitals.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SF-West and Major General Dananjith Karunaratne, Chief Field Engineer within a few hours of the Presidential directive commenced the projects at Kalubowila and Ragama hospital premises after mobilizing respective troops to the locations.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, accompanied by Engineer Brigade Commander, Brigadier Amith Seneviratne, Commanding Officer, 5 Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE) and Commanding Officer, 1 Corps of Engineer Services (CES) this morning (18), amidst Buddhist religious observances, cut the first soil sods in both locations and symbolically began the erection of those two prefabricated buildings where each ward could accommodate 30 patients.

Troops of the SFHQ-West, 5 SLE and 1 CES have been assigned to complete the project in less than 10 days.

Hospital Directors, Chief Medical Officers and other authorities attended the inaugural occasions.

Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Deputy Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Mr Felix Perera, former Minister and several state officials were present at the inauguration of the construction work at Colombo North (Ragama) Hospital premises.