The Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka, Hon. Sagala Ratnayake was shown the construction progress of the new four-story paediatric ward complex by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa (20 June 2024) at Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. This project is being funded by the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, with full labour assistance provided by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The need for this new paediatric ward complex arose due to the severe lack of space available for children in the existing paediatric wards at Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. Responding to this urgent need, the Basnayaka Nilame of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Dewalaya, Mr. Dishan Gunasekara, initiated the construction of this new four-story building. The foundation stone was laid on 21 September 2023.
Originally planned as a three-story complex, the project was expanded to a four-story complex due to labour assistance from the Air Force. In addition to the construction of the new ward complex, the Air Force is also developing a children’s garden and undertaking the repair and renovation of the existing paediatric ward complex.