Tuesday Jul 21, 2026
Tuesday Jul 21, 2026
Wednesday, 8 July 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Health Ministry has inaugurated a newly expanded Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit and a modernised main medical laboratory at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya following an investment of over Rs. 92 million aimed at strengthening healthcare services in the Central Province.
The facilities were opened recently under the patronage of Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, with the participation of Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni.
The project included the establishment of a Level II Accident and Emergency Care Unit by expanding and integrating the existing Primary Care Unit with a newly constructed adjoining facility. The Ministry allocated Rs. 37 million for the modernisation of the emergency unit and a further Rs. 55 million for relocating and upgrading the hospital’s main laboratory.
Officials said the emergency unit, which handled nearly 32,000 patients in 2025 despite limited facilities, has significantly increased its capacity. Bed capacity has risen from 18 to 47, while wall oxygen access has expanded from five to 15 patients. Staffing levels are also being increased from 69 to 144 personnel.
Addressing the event, Dr. Jayatissa said the Government was investing heavily to restart and complete health infrastructure projects that had stalled in previous years. He noted that substantial allocations had been made through this year’s budget to improve healthcare facilities nationwide.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to address workforce shortages in the health sector, stating that plans are underway to recruit the required staff and determine healthcare staffing requirements for the next three years in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Management Services.
Dr. Jayatissa announced that Cabinet approval has been granted to establish a separate directorate within the Ministry of Health to streamline the management of emergency treatment services, while praising the contribution of specialist medical staff working in accident and emergency care.
Deputy Minister Wijemuni said the Government intends to develop Peradeniya Teaching Hospital in phases, describing it as one of the country’s leading teaching hospitals affiliated with the University of Peradeniya.
The newly established laboratory was created in a renovated building previously occupied by the Laboratory Technician Training School. It will provide biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, histopathology and blood banking services to inpatients, outpatients and surrounding healthcare institutions.
Established with assistance from the Government of Japan in 1980, Teaching Hospital Peradeniya is one of the largest tertiary care hospitals in the Central Province, with a bed capacity of 1,008. The hospital serves a population of around 2.4 million people and provides treatment to over 80,000 inpatients and 250,000 outpatients annually, while also functioning as a major clinical training and research centre for medical and allied health sciences students.
