Military Hospital in Narahenpita
The Most Valued GIFT
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The new Military Hospital in Narahenpita which will be opened by President Rajapaksa today is one of the largest hospitals in South Asia with all sophisticated medical equipment. It is certainly a great gift given to the tri-forces and Police by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government and the people of this country, said Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake in an interview with the ‘Daily News’.
Following are the excerpts from the interview.
Q: Why do you consider the construction of this hospital an important milestone in the history of Sri Lanka's Armed Forces?
A: There are several reasons. Earlier, the Army Hospital did not have enough facilities to cater to patients requirements. Sometimes our War Heroes had to be sent to foreign countries even for subtle surgeries and operations. Hence this hospital which is equipped with 1,024 beds and which can provide accommodation to over 1,000 patients at the Outdoor Patients Department is undoubtedly a gift to the Security Forces.
The number of officers in the Army and other Forces has doubled since 2005. However, the medical needs of the members of the Security Forces and the Police are still being fulfilled at public hospitals. Sometimes the health and medical needs of the members of the Security Forces are unique to them. So it's very important to have a separate military hospital for them.
Another reason is that more than 30,000 members of the Security Forces became disabled during the Humanitarian operation. Most of them are young and have undergone various surgeries. So needless to say that we need new, sophisticated technology and facilities to provide better health services to disabled soldiers.
If we don't have such a hospital, treating them would be a challenge. There are around 36,000 retired War Heroes. Around 24,000 War Heroes made the greatest sacrifice on behalf of the motherland. Their parents, wives and children have to be looked after.
Q: What are the facilities available at this hospital?
A: This 10 storied Military Hospital comprises of 21 Wards. The complex is equipped with Sterilization and Supply Division (SSD) facilities, more spacious OPD section, 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 canteen and an auditorium with 314 seats for lectures etc.
The unique feature of the hospital is its separate wing which is reserved to provide health facilities to family members of ex-servicemen.
Q: How was the mission for this hospital accomplished?
A: When the need of such a hospital for the Security Forces was brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he allocated this special vote of Rs 4 billion to make it a reality as a tribute to the dedicated services by the war heroes for the unity of this nation.
It was the Defence Secretary who took the project forward, as in all other occasions, and facilitated us to get another Rs 2 billion worth medical equipment, turning it to be one of the best hospitals in Asia.
Hence the foundation-stone for the first phase of the New Military Hospital at Narahenpita was laid on November 12, 2009 and today it will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Q: Can you comment on the support given by the Government to the Armed Forces.
A: There had never been a Presidnt like Mahinda Rajapaksa. There had never been a Defence Secretary like Gotabaya Rajapaksa. There had never been a government like this before.
Now everything is being done to uplift the conditions of the Armed Forces. Their needs are being attended to with much care. The grant of houses for needy members of security personnel, the Abimansala, scholarships for the children of the war heroes, the Defence Service College for children, expansion of the Kotalawala Defence University and the Ranaviru Real Star program are some of the remarkable programs launched for the benefit of the war heroes.
Q: How do you find the manpower for the hospital?
A: We already have trained manpower to run the hospital smoothly and all that began several years ago.
The hospital is to be manned entirely by professionally-trained Army personnel for both administrative and medical duties. We seek expertise of certain fields from outside when the need arises.
Q: Can you comment on the contribution made by the Sri Lanka Army in the construction of the Military Hospital?
A: Engineers and technicians of the Engineers Services Regiment (ESR) responsible for the overall construction of the colossal complex, successfully attended to highly advanced and sophisticated technical aspects, associated with its day to - day operations and ensured its completion in time.
The cost of the construction of the Hospital is around Rs 6.5 billion. But the hospital is worth over Rs 10 billion. So in a way we are happy that the Army has saved approximately Rs 4 billion of public money. (Courtesy: Daily News)
The Most Valued GIFT
The new Military Hospital in Narahenpita which will be opened by President Rajapaksa today is one of the largest hospitals in South Asia with all sophisticated medical equipment. It is certainly a great gift given to the tri-forces and Police by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government and the people of this country, said Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake in an interview with the ‘Daily News’.Following are the excerpts from the interview.
Q: Why do you consider the construction of this hospital an important milestone in the history of Sri Lanka's Armed Forces?
A: There are several reasons. Earlier, the Army Hospital did not have enough facilities to cater to patients requirements. Sometimes our War Heroes had to be sent to foreign countries even for subtle surgeries and operations. Hence this hospital which is equipped with 1,024 beds and which can provide accommodation to over 1,000 patients at the Outdoor Patients Department is undoubtedly a gift to the Security Forces.
The number of officers in the Army and other Forces has doubled since 2005. However, the medical needs of the members of the Security Forces and the Police are still being fulfilled at public hospitals. Sometimes the health and medical needs of the members of the Security Forces are unique to them. So it's very important to have a separate military hospital for them.
Another reason is that more than 30,000 members of the Security Forces became disabled during the Humanitarian operation. Most of them are young and have undergone various surgeries. So needless to say that we need new, sophisticated technology and facilities to provide better health services to disabled soldiers.
If we don't have such a hospital, treating them would be a challenge. There are around 36,000 retired War Heroes. Around 24,000 War Heroes made the greatest sacrifice on behalf of the motherland. Their parents, wives and children have to be looked after.
Q: What are the facilities available at this hospital?
A: This 10 storied Military Hospital comprises of 21 Wards. The complex is equipped with Sterilization and Supply Division (SSD) facilities, more spacious OPD section, 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 canteen and an auditorium with 314 seats for lectures etc.
The unique feature of the hospital is its separate wing which is reserved to provide health facilities to family members of ex-servicemen.
Q: How was the mission for this hospital accomplished?
A: When the need of such a hospital for the Security Forces was brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he allocated this special vote of Rs 4 billion to make it a reality as a tribute to the dedicated services by the war heroes for the unity of this nation.
It was the Defence Secretary who took the project forward, as in all other occasions, and facilitated us to get another Rs 2 billion worth medical equipment, turning it to be one of the best hospitals in Asia.
Hence the foundation-stone for the first phase of the New Military Hospital at Narahenpita was laid on November 12, 2009 and today it will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Q: Can you comment on the support given by the Government to the Armed Forces.
A: There had never been a Presidnt like Mahinda Rajapaksa. There had never been a Defence Secretary like Gotabaya Rajapaksa. There had never been a government like this before.
Now everything is being done to uplift the conditions of the Armed Forces. Their needs are being attended to with much care. The grant of houses for needy members of security personnel, the Abimansala, scholarships for the children of the war heroes, the Defence Service College for children, expansion of the Kotalawala Defence University and the Ranaviru Real Star program are some of the remarkable programs launched for the benefit of the war heroes.
Q: How do you find the manpower for the hospital?
A: We already have trained manpower to run the hospital smoothly and all that began several years ago.
The hospital is to be manned entirely by professionally-trained Army personnel for both administrative and medical duties. We seek expertise of certain fields from outside when the need arises.
Q: Can you comment on the contribution made by the Sri Lanka Army in the construction of the Military Hospital?
A: Engineers and technicians of the Engineers Services Regiment (ESR) responsible for the overall construction of the colossal complex, successfully attended to highly advanced and sophisticated technical aspects, associated with its day to - day operations and ensured its completion in time.
The cost of the construction of the Hospital is around Rs 6.5 billion. But the hospital is worth over Rs 10 billion. So in a way we are happy that the Army has saved approximately Rs 4 billion of public money. (Courtesy: Daily News)
