The Kegalle District General Hospital has received a state-of-the-art infectious waste incinerator valued at over Rs. 17 million, for the first time in the history of the hospital.

With financial assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and under the coordination and guidance of the Ministry of Health, the modern infectious waste incinerator was installed within the premises of the Kegalle District General Hospital. 

According to the Health Ministry, it was officially commissioned for service recently under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Health, Hansaka Wijemuni.

UNICEF has spent more than Rs. 17 million for this advanced incinerator, which has the capacity to burn over 1,000 kilograms of clinical waste per day.

On average, around 300 kilograms of infectious waste are disposed of daily from the hospital. Until now, this waste was incinerated by a licensed clinical waste management company approved by the Central Environmental Authority. With the installation of the new incinerator, the money previously paid to that company will now be saved by the hospital.

It was revealed that the hospital administration had repeatedly informed successive governments of the urgent need for an infectious waste incinerator at the Kegalle District General Hospital, but the request had not been fulfilled until now.

The Kegalle District General Hospital, established in 1960, has gradually developed over the years and currently has a bed capacity of 815. It is the main hospital in the Kegalle District, serving nearly 900,000 people, as well as providing treatment and health services to residents of neighbouring districts such as Kandy, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, and surrounding areas. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Health says state-of-the-art infectious waste incinerators are to be established at 15 government hospitals across Sri Lanka.

According to the Ministry, the infectious waste incinerators are to be installed at the hospitals under the Infectious Waste Management Improvement Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This project is implemented with a financial grant of 503 million yen from the Japanese government and its citizens.

In addition to the Trincomalee District General Hospital, units have been installed at the teaching hospitals in Ratnapura and Kurunegala; district hospitals in Embilipitiya, Avissawella, Hambantota, Mannar, and Kilinochchi; base hospitals in Rikillagaskada, Mahiyanganaya, Puttalam, Meerigama, Medirigiriya, and Welikanda; and the divisional hospital in Nakulugamuwa.

The incinerator installed at Trincomalee District General Hospital is capable of burning up to 162 kilograms of infectious waste per hour. The project includes five such high-capacity machines and ten additional units capable of incinerating 58 kilograms per hour. Each incinerator has been installed according to the specific needs of the respective hospital. 

Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art infectious waste incinerator installed at the Trincomalee District General Hospital is scheduled to be vested with the public on Friday, 05th September 2025.

The event to officially hand over the equipment to the public will be held at 10.00 am this Friday under the patronage of Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, with participation of Eastern Province Governor Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasiri, Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, and Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata. (Newswire)

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