China-funded OPD building at NHSL falls into dilapidation : report
The 08-storey Out-Patient Department (OPD) building of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo, constructed with Chinese assistance and handed over to the Sri Lankan government in 2023, has reportedly fallen into a state of dilapidation, according to the ‘Aruna’ newspaper.
The facility, which handles everything from patient registration to administrative activities, receives 1,500 to 2,000 patients in its outpatient clinics daily, reports say.
The 08 storey building with 50,000 sq. metres, is the largest ever China-Aid project in Sri Lanka.
The news report further notes :
While maintenance was initially handled by the Chinese government, the condition of the building has deteriorated significantly in the 08 months under local management.
The building reportedly contains 42 toilets. However, it is reported that only 14 remain usable.
Many disabled-access toilets are locked, and water leaks between floors have persisted for over a year.
Officials say the primary cause is an incompatible plumbing system; the toilets were designed to operate in dry conditions according to Chinese standards.
However, Director of the Outpatient Department (OPD) and Cardiology – Dr. Pradeep Rathnasekera confirmed that repair work is now underway.
He also noted that the building’s escalators are out of service, with some parts needing to be imported from China, causing further delays.
(Source : Aruna)
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