News
OPD and emergency treatment unit at De Soysa Hospital for Women, Colombo, refurbished
ATG Group of Companies, Colombo in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka and Muslim Aid Sri Lanka, supported the complete refurbishment of the Outpatient Department (OPD) and Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) at the De Soysa Hospital for Women (DSHW) in Colombo, recently. Valued at approximately LKR 4 million, this timely donation will uplift the hospital’s facilities, enabling more efficient, safe, and dignified maternal care for thousands of women in need.
As the first maternity hospital in Sri Lanka and the second oldest in Asia, De Soysa Hospital plays a central role in safeguarding the health of mothers and newborns, handling over 14,000 maternity cases annually, including numerous high-risk pregnancies. In 2023 alone, its OPD and ETU units treated 16,388 outpatients, admitted 18,151 patients, and responded to 145 emergency cases. However, the facility has faced significant challenges due to outdated partitions, damaged infrastructure, and limited capacity to meet increasing patient volumes. This situation demanded urgent intervention to restore essential functionality and safety.
The project supported under ‘ATG Suraksha’, ATG’s flagship Health and Wellness initiative, involved comprehensive structural renovations, upgraded medical furniture, and other essential infrastructure necessary to ensure operational efficiency and patient dignity.
Muslim Aid Sri Lanka, the local body of the global development agency, acted as the implementation partner for this programme. These improvements will further support the hospital’s digital transformation in OPD and ETU services, in alignment with the Ministry of Health’s national healthcare modernisation efforts.
This initiative by ATG reflects the Group’s enduring commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s public health sector. By taking proactive measures within the national and regional hospital network, ATG continues to create a meaningful impact and a safer environment for not only its employees but also the general public.
The Group also donated a LKR 12.8 million Green Laser Machine to the Vijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital in Seeduwa, enhancing the hospital’s capacity to perform vitrectomy surgeries and restore sight for patients affected by diabetic retinopathy, recently.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business3 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News3 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Features3 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features3 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News3 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
News3 days ago65 withdrawn cases re-filed by Govt, PM tells Parliament
-
News3 days agoNational Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion (SBCC) has been launched. – PM
-
Opinion5 days agoThe minstrel monk and Rafiki, the old mandrill in The Lion King – II