President says Defence Hospital must ramp-up public healthcare services

Thursday, 28 August 2025 04:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Tuesday said the Government bore significant expenses to maintain the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Hospital and instructed officials to streamline and deliver healthcare to the public in a “more efficient and effective manner.” The President’s Media Division said Disanayake made these comments while chairing a Defence Ministry Pre-Budget 2026 discussion.

He emphasised that Sri Lanka’s defence forces must be developed into one of the most professional forces in the world, instructing officials to ensure that the necessary Budgetary allocations were properly channelled to provide the required training and facilities.

The progress of projects implemented under the Budgetary provisions allocated to the Defence Ministry in 2025 was reviewed at the discussion, and programs currently being carried out for the Sri Lanka Army, Air Force, Navy, the Civil Security Department, and cadet officers were also examined.

Special attention was drawn to overseas training opportunities provided to members of the defence forces. Noting that such training is distinct from that offered to officials of other Government sectors, the President instructed officials to pay particular attention in this regard.

The President further directed that steps be taken to ensure the families of Civil Security Department members who lost their lives during the war are provided with the same compensation currently extended to families of members of other defence services.

A number of other matters were also discussed, including construction projects related to the Defence Ministry and welfare measures for members of the defence forces.

The discussion was attended by Defence Deputy Minister Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) H.S. Sampath Thuyacontha, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russel Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, the commanders of the Tri-Forces, officials of institutions under the Defence Ministry, and senior officials of the Finance Ministry.