Jaffna People Vested with New Health Facilities Thru Army Expertise

The most sought service provider to the Nation, the Sri Lanka Army on Sunday (24) made a monumental contribution to the people of Jaffna by vesting them with Army-constructed health facilities in the Waddukkodai and Kayts Regional Hospitals and the Regional Medical Officer’s (RMO) office complex at Marathankerny, Jaffna.

Construction of those projects, comprised of two new spacious Out Patients Departments (OPDs) in Waddukkodai and Kayts Regional Hospitals and the RMO office complex in Marathankerny were undertaken by the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) in 2016 when the incumbent Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake was serving as the Jaffna Commander. This long-felt need for a complex of those facilities with new-storied buildings was made possible due to untiring hard work of Army Engineers together with the troops in the SFHQ-J with no labour cost to the government.

The project was financially sponsored by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) based in Geneva, Switzerland, which spent about Rs 28.03 million for the Waddukkodei OPD, Rs 28.9 million for the Kayts OPD and Rs 30.3 million for the RMO office at Marathankerny respectively.

Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), commanded by Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi afterwards undertook the challenge of the continuation of the erection of new OPD complexes and the RMO Office with expertise and technical directions of the Corps of Engineer Services (CES) under the close supervision of Jaffna Commander in close coordination with the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake who wanted the projects to be completed as scheduled.

This morning’s (24) opening ceremonies saw Hon Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Dr Rajitha Senaratne on arrival at the venue was welcomed by Hon Governor to the Northern Province, Members of Parliament, Directors of Hospitals and Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, representing the Commander of the Army.

The day’s Chief Guest unveiled plaques and walked into the new OPD complexes at Waddukkodai and Kayts Regional Hospitals and the RMO office at Marathankerny, together with several distinguished invitees, accompanying him. Members of the clergy invoked blessings on the projects before the Hon Minister symbolically registered the first patient to the new OPD complexes and inaugurated their operations.

Hon Minister in the public meeting that followed spoke high of the Army contribution and praised the Commander of the Army and everyone who contributed to the project.

Considering the accute need for more space for OPD treatment in Waddukkodai and Kayts Regional Hospitals, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake during his tenure as Jaffna Commander took the initiative in this regard and brought it to the notice of the authorities which finally bore fruits.

At Palaly Airport, Hon Minister and his retinue were welcomed by Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna before they were conducted to the project sites.

Representatives of donor agencies, Governor for the Northern Province, Members of Parliament, Senior Police Officers, Tri Service Officers and a large gathering of civilians were associated with the respective ceremonies in the peninsula.

In addition, the Army in Jaffna is about to complete Rs 5.1 million worth RMO office, Sankane Rs 5.4 million estimated RMO office at Vellani and the Kodikamam OPD unit which costs Rs 18.62 million in the near future.