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Cardiac surgeons transferred to Kurunegala Hospital for ‘can’t be done’ heart operations

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5 years ago

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by Suresh Perera

In a scenario akin to a “comedy of errors”, heart surgeons continue to receive transfers to the cardiology unit of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital notwithstanding the fact that no cardiac surgical procedures were performed in this key government medical facility for the past six years due to lack of specialized medical equipment.

Even the two operating theatres in the five-storied cardiology complex are no longer in use. While one of them has been abandoned, the other has been taken over to house the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), medical officials said.

Though there’s a cardiology unit, the medical services doesn’t extend beyond an angiogram to diagnose patients and recommend follow-up treatment or surgical procedures, where necessary. However, despite the limitations, cardiac surgeons continue to be transferred to this premier hospital in the North Western Province, they said.

The building housing the cardiology unit was built with funds raised by philanthropists in 2016. However, since its inception, no heart operations were performed as the vital modern infrastructure was not in place in the two operating theatres, they pointed out.

It is true that initially there was a difficulty in finding sufficient heart surgeons to serve in provincial hospitals. Even now there are only about 25 senior cardiac surgeons in Sri Lanka, the officials said.

However, among the heart surgeons later transferred to this cardiology unit were those who had completed their two-year training overseas. But, as there was no functional operating theatre, many had subsequently asked that they be moved out as there was no work, while some others had opted to assist their colleagues in other major government hospitals performing cardiac surgical procedures, they noted.

A cardiac surgeon, who asked not be identified, said after his transfer to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, he chose to inform the Health Ministry and stay back to help a colleague perform heart operations rather than twiddle his thumbs in a medical facility sans even the basic medical equipment.

“I can perform heart surgeries, but not miracles”, he laughed.

“There should be lung machines, ventilators and other medical equipment in a fully-fledged operating theatre to do the job we are expected to do to save lives”, he said.

This is a ridiculous situation as, in a country where moves were underway to procure luxury vehicles for billions of rupees, allocating Rs. 300 million to give a new lease of life to critically ill patients doesn’t seem important, he remarked.

On the A9 Colombo-Jaffna highway, the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital is the only government medical facility with a cardiology unit. However, despite the heavy inflow of patients, no cardiac surgical procedures are done there, he continued.

Patients diagnosed with heart conditions by cardiologists in the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital are advised to undergo surgery have to travel to either the Kandy General Hospital or Colombo National Hospitals, where there is a long ‘waiting list’ in any case. Most of these patients are poor people living in far-flung villages and cannot even raise the bus fare to Colombo or Kandy, let alone meet other costs involved, medical officials pointed out.

“Through my experience in many hospitals, I am aware of countless instances where we found patients dead when their turn was up for surgery in the long ‘waiting list’. We could have saved many lives if the heart operations were performed at Kurunegala without over-burdening the Colombo and Kandy hospitals”, he said.

In today’s context, cardiac conditions are common even among the 35-50 age group. Unlike earlier, it’s no longer largely restricted to those between 60 and 70 years, he stressed.

Medical officials said that years ago quotations were called to refurbish the two operating theatres, but despite a successful bid, there was no headway as the matter was dropped, he said.

He further said that the Association of Cardiothoracic and Thoracic Surgeons of Sri Lanka has also repeatedly urged the Health Ministry to refurbish the operating theatre and have the required medical equipment in place to perform heart operations.

“It is sad to see poor heart patients dying as the Colombo and Kandy hospitals are under tremendous pressure with numbers from Kurunegala also adding to the heavy volume of patients awaiting surgery”, the cardiac surgeon commented.

A senior health official in the region said that the development of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital under a master plan to improve government health facilities in the province is now on the drawing board.

The development initiative was also discussed at a recent meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who contested the last parliamentary election from the Kurunegala district.

He conceded that heart surgeons were being routinely transferred to Kurunegala hospital’s cardiology unit though surgical procedures were not happening due to lack of facilities.

“As this is a matter of critical importance, we need to work on an intermediate plan to get on with heart operations early as we are not only placing lives at risk, but also adding to the burden of the Colombo and Kandy hospitals”, he explained.

Take for example, patients with Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, which can trigger acute cardiac events. As they risk rupturing of blood vessels, surgery should be performed within the hospital or at a medical facility in the locality, he said.

“However, under the prevailing circumstances, we have ask patients to visit either the Colombo National Hospital or the Kandy General Hospital for surgery despite the big risk involved”, he pointed out.

With ‘wait listing’, they have to hang on for months for their turn to undergo surgery. That’s if they survive the ordeal, he added.

 

 


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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district

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4 hours ago

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2026/04/20

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 19 April 2026, valid for 20 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.


Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Church calls for Deputy Defence Minister’s removal, establishment of Independent Prosecutor’s Office

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5 hours ago

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2026/04/20

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Pressure mounts on govt. over Easter Sunday carnage

The Catholic Church intends to formally request President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this week to relieve Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (retd) Aruna Jayasekera of his ministerial post pending investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage.

Head of Centre for Society & Religion (CSR) Rev. Father. Rohan Silva OMI said that they were in the process of collecting signatures from the relevant Catholic clergy for a petition to be handed over to President Dissanayake probably the day after tomorrow (22).

The priest said so in response to The Island queries regarding their plans to highlight the atrocities perpetrated on 21 April, seven years ago. The priest explained that an impartial inquiry couldn’t be conducted as Jayasekera had served as Security Forces Commander, East, when some members of Saharan Hashim’s National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) blew themselves up at their Sainthamaruthu hideout after being surrounded by the police and the army.

According to the priest, the signing of the petition commenced last Friday (17) and the process will be completed on 21 April, with the petition being handed over to the President.

Speaking at an event organised by the CSR to mark the launch of a special report on the Easter Sunday attacks titled, “Memory, Pain and Hope: Seeking Justice Seven Years On,” last Frida, in Colombo, Rev. Father Silva called for the removal of Deputy Minister Jayasekera and an independent probe into the carnage.

“We will formally request President Dissanayake to remove him to facilitate an impartial investigation.”

Leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) and ex-Minister Udaya Gammanpila told The Island that there was absolutely no need to relieve Maj. Gen. Jayasekera of his ministerial portfolio. Reiterating his long-standing position that the Easter Sunday mastermind was none other than Zaharan Hashim, who carried out suicide attack inside Shgangri-La Colombo.

Top spokesperson for the Catholic Church Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando expressed confidence in the ongoing CID investigation launched following a complaint lodged by Rev. Father Silva. He said that although the investigation was slow it was being conducted systematically and they were satisfied with its progress. According to the Church’s spokesperson, the complaint was launched following the telecast of the UK Channel 4 programme in Sept 2023 that dealt with the Easter Sunday conspiracy.

Responding to Gammanpila, Dr. Rohan Gunaratne as well as Aruna Jayasekera’s statement in Parliament, Rev. Fr. Fernando emphasised a thorough investigation was required to identify those within the armed forces and police, particularly the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) involved in criminal activities at the behest of their political masters.

Rev. Father Fernando questioned their complicity and involvement in the 2009 assassination of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga and the abduction and disappearance of media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda on the eve of the 2010 presidential election.

The priest emphasised that the accusations were directed at a small group of personnel regarding criminal activities and not the armed forces and police as a whole.

Responding to questions, Rev. Father Fernando underscored the importance of establishing an Independent Public Prosecutor’s Office to ensure fair, effective and impartial prosecution of cases. Pointing out shortcomings on the part of the Attorney General in dealing with high profile cases, the priest stressed the responsibility on the part of the AG to take note of growing public concerns over the Easter Sunday case. The Independent Prosecutor’s Office would ensure greater accountability and confidence in Sri Lanka’s justice system, the priest said, while referring to reported cases of conflict of interests.

The NPP manifesto assured an early creation of the Independent Prosecutor’s Office and the cabinet-of-ministers on 7 May, 2025 decided to go ahead with it.

Referring to a ‘B’ report submitted by the CID to the Fort Magistrate’s Court recently, Rev. Father Fernando alleged that the DMI continued to interfere in the Easter Sunday investigation. “After the CID recorded a statement from a person living in Negombo regarding the Easter Sunday carnage, a Sergeant attached to the DMI visited the targeted man’s residence. There had been another person with the Sergeant,” Rev. Father Fernando said, alleging that in spite of a change of government the conspirators seemed to be still active within that organization.

The Church spokesperson said that they still expected the government to implement the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that probed the Easter Sunday carnage. The recommendations of the report handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in early February 2021 were yet to be implemented, while drawing attention of the current dispensation to the inordinate delay in addressing the issues underscored by the PCoI.

In August last year, the ruling party thwarted an attempt by the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against Deputy Minister Jayasekera following his declaration in parliament that a small section of the DMI had been involved in the Easter Sunday carnage. The NPP asserted that in terms of the existing Standing Orders a no-faith motion couldn’t be moved against a Deputy Minister.

The Catholic Church has organised a series of events on 19 April and 21 April to highlight the need to bring the Easter Sunday investigations to a successful conclusion. Prayers would be offered at St. Anthony’s Church as well as St. Sebastian church, on 21 April, the scene of devastating attacks, Rev. Father Fernando said, adding that the Vatican Ambassador here would join the march from Maris Stella College, Negombo to St. Sebastian’s church in the late afternoon on 21 April.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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Road accidents, drowning, claim 70 lives in 8 days

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5 hours ago

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2026/04/20

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Police Headquarters yesterday said that 70 people were killed in road accidents and drowning incidents during the traditional New Year period spanning eight days.

Police said 42 road accidents were reported from various parts of the country between April 10 and April 18, resulting in 44 deaths.

Meanwhile, 26 drowning deaths were reported during the six-day period from April 12 to April 18.

by Dharmasena Welipitiya

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