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Minister of Health Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella ceremoniously opening the ‘Watawala Kalana Mithuru’ Intensive Care Unit
The fully-equipped ICU at Udugama Base Hospital
Minister of Health Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella and Minsiter of Plantations Dr. Ramesh Pathirana examining the new premises
From left: Sunshine Holdings Group Chief Financial Officer Aruna Deepthikumara, Sunshine Tea Chief Executive Officer Sanjeeva Saranapala, Watawala Plantations Chief Executive Officer Binesh Pananwala and Watawala Plantations Directors Vish Govindasamy and Air Chief Marshal (retd.) Harsha Abeywickrama
Members of Watawala Plantations with Chief Executive Officer Binesh Pananwala and Director Vish Govindasamy
Watawala Plantations PLC (WPL) ceremoniously opened its newly built fully equipped “Watawala Kalana Mithuru” Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Udugama Base Hospital in the Galle District recently, under the guidance of the Ministry of Health. The five-bed Intensive Care Unit project, led by Watawala Plantations PLC and supported by Tata Communications Lanka Ltd, will benefit communities in the Udugama, Neluwa, Thawalama, Nagoda, Yakkalamulla, Hiniduma and Nakiyadeniya areas of Galle District.
This timely initiative was launched when residents of the region were severely affected by the lack of an ICU unit at Udugama Base Hospital, prompting the donation following a request made by the hospital’s development committee. This fully-equipped ICU is now the premier Intensive Care Unit in the Galle District, second only to the Intensive Care Unit at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.
Commenting at the inaugural launch of the ICU, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella stated, “I am grateful to the Watawala Plantations for their fullest support in making this a reality today. During the Covid-19 epidemic, our health sector set an example. They made an amazing sacrifice. That commitment is second to none. The Government will take every possible step towards developing the local health sector and further strengthening outstation hospitals during the years to come. The aim is to reduce the number of patients coming to premium hospitals. We will take decisions and put those into action. ”
“The health sector and several other sectors have come forward strongly during this period of crisis. One of them is the plantation sector. I want to thank Watawala Plantations for their long-term assistance in developing the Udugama Hospital and its leadership in constructing this Intensive Care Unit. Not only this, Watawala Plantations has been contributing to fostering good health in these communities people for a long time by adding positive things to the lives of Sri Lankans. Free health and free education are the two gems of Sri Lanka. Every Government has contributed to the maintenance of free health and free education,” Galle District Parliamentarian, Minister of Plantation Industries, Hon. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said.
The construction work of the ICU was carried out under the supervision of the Udugama Hospital Development Committee under the leadership of the Hospital Superintendent Dr. Susantha Fernando and with great support of the hospital staff, the Sri Lankan Army and residents of the area. All hospital staff have also been trained in Intensive Care parallel to the construction of the unit. This helped The Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella to propel the Hospital’s rating from a B-Grade to an A-Grade Hospital.
Governor of the Southern Province Dr. Willie Gamage, Member of Parliament Sampath Athukorala, Member of Parliament Isuru Dodangoda, Director of Watawala Plantation PLC Vish Govindasamy, Chief Executive Officer of Watawala Plantations PLC Mr. Binesh Pananwala, and other distinguished guests were also present at the ceremony.
