Friday Oct 30, 2026
Friday Oct 30, 2026
Friday, 30 October 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
COPE Chairman MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has instructed authorities to decide urgently whether the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital should operate as a Government hospital or a private hospital.
The directive was issued at a recent meeting chaired by COPE Chairman MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, where KDU management was summoned to examine the Auditor General’s reports for 2023 and 2024 and the institution’s current performance, Parliament said.
The Committee raised serious concern over the underutilisation of wards, operating theatres and intensive care units at the hospital, which has more than 800 beds, as well as shortages of medical officers and other healthcare staff. It warned that failure to decide on an operating model and implement the necessary measures could worsen these problems.
COPE also examined the repayment of foreign loans obtained to build the hospital and weaknesses in its financial and administrative management.
The hospital lost about Rs. 8.44 million through the theft of 2,199 metres of copper strips from its lightning protection system in 2022 and 2023, the Committee said. A civilian contract worker and a Navy member were arrested in connection with the thefts. COPE questioned whether the aluminium wires used to replace the copper strips met the required technical and safety standards.
The Committee called for better use of hospital facilities, action on staff shortages, stronger financial management and more effective use of public resources. It also called for amendments to the KDU Act to strengthen the university’s governance and administrative structure.
