26th June 2021 11:52:30 Hours
The Ayurvedic Hospital in Beliatta area was converted into an Intermediate Care Centre (ICC) to treat COVID- 19 patients in the event of any emergency following the increase of the patients in the area under the guidelines given by health authorities and Major General Prasanna Ranawaka, General Officer Commanding, 12 Division of the SFHQ-Central.
General Shavendra Silva, Head, NOCPCO, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, the brainchild behind enhancement of the bed capacity and ICCs in line with the sudden increase of infected ones around the country, instructed Major General Ranjan Lamahewage, Commander, Security Forces - Central to take prompt action for the conversion of this Hospital for an ICC within a few days.
Accordingly, troops of the 23 Gajaba Regiment, 3 Sri Lanka National Guard and 17 (volunteer) Corps of Engineer Services of the 122 Brigade with Health authorities, and other officials threw their weight behind realization of the project and made the ICC available to authorities on Tuesday (22) .
This new converted ICC can accommodate 100 patients and is equipped with all medical facilities. The General Officer Commanding - 12 Division who worked tirelessly with his troops formally handed it over to health authorities during a simple formal occasion. closely supervised the troops until the completion of the task.
Together with Dr C. L Guruge, Commissioner Ayurveda for Southern province, Dr Deepika Patabendige, District Medical Officer and Regional Director of Health, Dr Shayama P Hewage, Officer in Charge at Beliatta Ayurvedic Hospita, Senior Army Officers including Brigadier Janaka Pallekumbura, Commander, 122 Brigade were present during the event.
