The newly modernized Accident and Emergency Care Unit and the Main Medical Laboratory of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital will be vested in the public on Sunday (14) under the patronage of Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa, following a Rs. 92 million upgrade.
The Accident and Emergency Care Unit, previously operating as a Primary Care Unit (PCU) with limited capacity, has been developed into an Accident and Emergency Care Unit (A&E – Level II) to meet the growing demand for emergency services. The upgrade involved integrating the existing building with newly constructed space to create a larger treatment area.
The Main Medical Laboratory has been relocated to a fully renovated building, formerly the Laboratory Technicians, and equipped with advanced facilities.
According to the Ministry of Health, Rs. 37 million was allocated for the modernization of the Accident and Emergency Care Unit, while Rs. 55 million was spent on relocating and upgrading the Main Medical Laboratory.
The upgraded emergency unit has increased patient capacity from 18 to 47, expanded Wall Oxygen facilities from 5 to 15, and boosted staff strength from 69 to 144. In 2025 alone, the unit treated 31,981 patients, underscoring the urgent need for modernization.
The Main Medical Laboratory now provides essential testing services in Biochemistry, Haematology, Microbiology, and Histopathology, supporting both emergency and routine diagnostics as well as blood bank services for inpatients, outpatients, and nearby primary hospitals.
Established in 1980 with support from the Government of Japan, the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital remains the leading tertiary care facility in the Central Province. It serves as the main clinical training center for the University of Peradeniya’s medical, dental, and allied health faculties, while catering to nearly 2.4 million people in the region and patients referred from other provinces.
With a bed capacity of 1,008, the hospital annually treats over 80,000 inpatients, 250,000 outpatients, and 300,000 clinic patients, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s healthcare system. (Newswire)
