The Government has launched a programme to restart and complete 25 major health sector construction projects that were abandoned midway, with an estimated Rs. 76 billion required to finish the developments.
The Ministry of Health and Mass Media said the projects, located at key hospitals and health institutions across the country, are being implemented under the guidance of Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
According to the Ministry, the projects include construction work that commenced between 2014 and 2024 but was later suspended for various reasons. Among them are the main Ministry of Health building and 24 other priority health infrastructure projects.
The Government has allocated Rs. 16 billion through the 2025 Budget for the programme, while Rs. 19 billion has been earmarked for 2026. A further Rs. 38 billion is expected to be allocated in 2027.
The projects cover facilities related to maternal and child healthcare, cancer treatment, cardiac care, thalassaemia treatment, emergency services, staff accommodation, national health centres and medical waste management.
Among the completed projects is the maternity and ward complex at the De Soysa Hospital for Women, which began in 2019 and was completed with an allocation of Rs. 389 million.
The 12-storey “Little Hearts” Centre at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, which commenced in 2017, has reached its final stage at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.2 billion.
The second phase of the eight-storey cancer treatment unit at the National Cancer Treatment Unit, which began in 2016 and was later halted, has now been completed with Rs. 400 million allocated from this year’s Budget.
Construction is also continuing on a 10-storey building and six-storey cancer unit at the Badulla Teaching Hospital, for which the Government has allocated Rs. 1 billion in 2026.
Several other projects are nearing completion, including the Accident and Emergency Treatment Unit at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the Surgical Medical Unit at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, renal care units in Batticaloa and Hambantota, and the bone marrow transplant unit at the National Hospital in Kandy. A total of Rs. 1.75 billion has been allocated for these projects in 2026.
The Ministry’s main office building, which commenced in 2014 and later stalled, is also nearing completion, with Rs. 3 billion allocated through the 2026 Budget.
Work is also progressing on the diagnostic unit of the National Stroke Centre in Mulleriyawa and outpatient and accident service units in Kegalle, Trincomalee, Ampara, Chilaw and Kandy, with Rs. 1.75 billion allocated for those developments
Meanwhile, a joint project with Japan International Cooperation Agency to install and operate 15 infectious waste incinerators at hospitals is in its final stage and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Other ongoing developments include the cardiac care complex at Ratnapura Hospital, nursing education facilities in Kalutara and Anuradhapura, and a six-storey hostel building at the Faculty of Nursing in Sri Jayewardenepura.
In addition, more than Rs. 8.8 billion has been allocated for the modernisation and rehabilitation of hospital infrastructure nationwide.
Minister Jayatissa has instructed officials to expedite the projects and make the facilities available for public use as soon as possible. (Newswire)