Amid the severe weather conditions impacting the country, the Sri Lanka Air Force airlifted three critically ill children from the Chilaw Base Hospital after floodwaters cut access and a power outage disrupted essential medical services.
According to hospital officials, essential food supplies and dry rations had earlier been delivered to the Chilaw Hospital due to the surrounding area being inundated. However, a sudden power failure inside the hospital created a critical situation for several young patients who required immediate advanced care.
Two infants—aged 28 days and 35 days—and a 10-year-old child with serious injuries were evacuated under the supervision of two medical officers. The patients were transported aboard a Bell-412 helicopter belonging to the No. 04 Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force, deployed from the Ratmalana Air Force Base.
The helicopter flew the patients to the Katunayake Air Force Base, where an ambulance team received them and transported them to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo for further treatment.
The rescue was carried out as part of ongoing emergency air operations launched to safeguard vulnerable patients affected by flooding across multiple districts. Authorities say medical evacuations will continue as long as weather conditions pose a threat to hospitals and communities. (Newswire)
🚨 Chilaw Hospital Rescue Mission
Amid rising floods and a full power outage, the Sri Lanka Air Force airlifted two critically ill infants and a 10-year-old child from Chilaw Base Hospital today.
A Bell-412 helicopter from Ratmalana rushed the children to Katunayake, where they… pic.twitter.com/eJE7H7JgqI
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) November 29, 2025