Sri Lanka seeks China Aid support to repair blast-damaged kidney hospital

Sri Lanka is seeking assistance under China Aid’s emergency relief mechanism to repair the China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Specialized Hospital in Polonnaruwa following a recent explosion, Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe said on Thursday.

Jasinghe inspected the hospital on Wednesday to assess the damage caused by the explosion in its kitchen and the impact on nearby sections of the facility.

He said discussions had already been held involving the Health Minister, the Chinese Ambassador and other officials, and that the government was now working with the Department of External Resources to obtain support under the China Aid emergency relief mechanism.

According to Jasinghe, the Chinese side had also expressed willingness to support the maintenance of other hospitals in Sri Lanka completed with Chinese assistance.

The explosion damaged the hospital kitchen as well as adjoining male and female wards, the main operating theatre and the medical intensive care unit.

Jasinghe said two damaged wards could be brought back into service within the next two days after minor repairs, while the operating theatre complex and an intensive care unit could also resume operations shortly.

Blood transfusion services had already restarted the day after the explosion, although inpatient admissions had not yet resumed.

He said technical teams were continuing to inspect electrical systems, medical gas systems and other facilities affected by the blast. Some repairs could be carried out by the hospital itself, while others would require specialised technical support and assistance from contracted institutions.

Jasinghe said the hospital would be able to resume admitting patients to several wards while continuing dialysis services, with major services such as surgery also expected to restart.

Investigations by the Health Ministry and other relevant authorities into the explosion are continuing.