Sri Lanka and India today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide modern medical equipment worth Rs. 600 million for the new Deniyaya Base Hospital. 

According to the Ministry of Health, the agreement was signed at the Ministry under the patronage of Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, with Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha placing their signatures.

The initiative forms part of India’s “Aftermath Cyclone Ditwah Project”, aimed at rehabilitating health infrastructure affected by the cyclone. The project will supply essential equipment to the relocated Deniyaya Base Hospital, enhancing safer, higher‑quality, and more efficient healthcare for residents of Deniyaya and surrounding areas.

Minister Jayatissa described the MoU as a reaffirmation of the decades‑long friendship and cooperation between the two nations. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India and the Indian High Commission in Colombo for their financial support, noting that the donation will significantly expand treatment services, improve diagnostic and therapeutic quality, and strengthen healthcare delivery in the Matara District.

The relocation of the hospital comes as the current site is prone to landslides and lacks space for expansion. A new location has been identified at Handford Estate, about three kilometers from Deniyaya town, following geological and technical assessments.

The Ministry of Health has planned a 300‑bed modern hospital, to be built in two phases with an investment of Rs. 6 billion (Rs. 6,000 million). The first phase will include male, female, pediatric, and maternity wards, operating theatres, an intensive care unit, accident and emergency facilities, and a blood bank. The design also incorporates separate transport access for patients and official quarters for health staff.

Construction is expected to begin this year and be completed within three years. The hospital is planned as a modern, environmentally friendly, disaster‑resilient institution, with capacity for future expansion. (Newswire)

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Three individuals have been arrested at the Katunayake Airport with illegally imported communication equipment, it was reported. 

The Police stated that the suspects aged 22, 27, and 46 years were residents of Colombo 10 and were arrested by the Katunayake Airport Police. 

The group was arrested with the illegally imported goods after their motor vehicle was inspected by the Katunayake Airport Police while attempting to leave the airport premises. 

The Police had found 09 laptops, 121 smartphones, 100 small mobile phones, 240 chargers, phone batteries, and phone covers from the possession of the suspects. 

The Katunayake Airport Police has launched investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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