COLOMBO, June 12 (Xinhua) — Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday officially opened the largest specialized nephrology hospital in South Asia, which was built through a grant from China.
President Rajapaksa unveiled a commemorative plaque during the opening ceremony of the China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
The ceremony was also attended by former president and Polonnaruwa District MP Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong.
Ambassador Qi said that the hospital was a symbol of Sri Lanka-China friendship and would be a new landmark in Polonnaruwa. He said that the hospital may benefit all people in South Asia.
Photo taken on June 11 shows the China-funded nephrology hospital in Polonnaruwa, the second-largest city in the North Central Province in Sri Lanka. (Xinhua)
“During the past few years, both China and Sri Lanka have worked together to overcome various difficulties, especially the heavy impact brought by the COVID-19 epidemic, and succeeded in completing this modern and state-of-the-art hospital on schedule,” Qi said.
The hospital was requested by former President Sirisena during a visit to China in 2015. The complex took 30 months to construct.
The hospital has an area of 25,000 square meters, featuring 200 general inpatient beds, 100 hemodialysis beds, and 20 intensive care beds.
Hospital features also include state-of-the-art laboratories, radiation and CT scan services, and an auditorium.
