New Wards established by Army at Colombo South Teaching Hospital

The untiring efforts of Army troops in order to expand the existing ward capacity at Colombo South Teaching Hospital, in close consultation with health authorities, completed the establishment of three more new wards in the eight-storied building in the hospital complex.

The project, considered as another giant emergency move, undertaken by the Army as per Presidential directives was fully supported by the Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) and all three converted wards with 250 beds were formally vested in the Colombo South Teaching Hospital authorities this morning (26) by General Shavendra Silva, Head, National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, together with Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit who was instrumental in providing the project with all accessories and furniture.

The Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC) factory in Dombagoda within a day in a striking dedication manufactured the first set of 150 iron beds to match with recommended ward specifications on the directions of the Army Chief, no sooner than the Presidential directive wanted the building floors be used for this emergency purpose as early as possible. The remaining 100 beds are to be supplied within next 48 hours according to Brigadier Priyantha Weerasinghe, Director, Directorate of Ordnance Services.

The ASVU taking note of the essentials provided 250 mattresses, 300 bedsheets, 300 pillow cases, 300 pillows, bedside cupboards and other pieces of furniture as well as accessories to those three wards, in which an emergency treatment section and a reserved section with a set of beds for affected little children are also available. The continuing increase of COVID-19 patients prompted the Army to assist further expansion of treatment capacity in this hospital by establishing three new wards on priority basis.

The challenge for conversion of those three wards inside an incomplete storeyed hospital building at the earliest was promptly and committedly undertaken by troops of the Security Force HQ-West, 14 Division HQ and other logistics battalions, just a few days ago under the close guidance and the 24hr supervision of Major General Sujeewa Senerath Yapa, Commander Security Forces-West, Major General Crishantha Gnanarathna,General Officer Commanding, 14 Division,Brigadier Thushara Balasooriya – Brigadier Cordination ASVU, Brigade Commanders under the SFHQ-West and the 14 Division, comprised of all Commanding Officers, Sri Lanka Engineers and all other logistics battalions.

Since of recent times, the Army as per directions of the Head, NOCPCO has been engaged in converting hospital wards, abandoned factory buildings, allocated industry buildings, unused state locations, etc to serve as emergency treatment wards or ICCs in the face of looming threat of the virus transmission and the surge of more and more positive cases.