Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) conducted an inspection visit to Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) in Malabe, following a recent Cabinet decision to transfer its management to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).
He was received by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe upon arrival.
During the visit, discussions were held on the hospital’s current operations, long-term vision and key objectives aimed at enhancing medical facilities and services.
The Cabinet, at its meeting on Feb. 9, 2026, decided to place the management of NFTH and the properties of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) under SLAF oversight.
Director General of Health Services of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalith Jayaweera, briefed officials on ongoing initiatives, operational capacity and future expansion plans to address emerging healthcare needs. Infrastructure development, financial aspects and inter-agency coordination were also discussed to ensure timely implementation.
The Defence Secretary underscored the need for coordinated efforts to develop the hospital into a modern medical facility, stating that strengthening such institutions would contribute to the country’s healthcare sector.
Senior SLAF officers and representatives from several ministries, including Defence, Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Education, Higher and Vocational Education, Health, Mass Media, and Economic Development, were present. (Newswire)