COLOMBO (News 1st): The Government has decided to establish five new hospitals exclusively for the treatment of communicable diseases, the country’s COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project said.

These hospitals will be established in Hambantota, Kilinochchi, Ampara, Iranawila and Kandy, Dr. Jayasundara Bandara, the Director of the Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project told News 1st on Friday (Mar. 05).

The hospitals in Ampara, Kilinochchi and Kandy will have a capacity of 400 beds, while Iranawila and Hambantota will have around 200 beds.

According Dr. Jayasundara Bandara, a remote unit will also be established for patients suffering from communicable diseases at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Angoda, with a capacity of 128 beds where patients could be treated in an isolated manner.

“Plans have been prepared in order to ensure that hospital services and treatment facilities do not collapse in the event of future pandemics, by providing treatment for those who contract infectious diseases at separate hospitals,” Dr. Bandara further elaborated.

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