Watawala Plantation Limited announces the opening of its newly built fully equipped Intensive Care Unit at the Udugama Base Hospital in the Galle District under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, which will be open to the Public at the auspicious time on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. The project led by Watawala Plantations Ltd is supported by Tata Communications Lanka Ltd.
The five-bedded Intensive Care Unit will benefit people living in Udugama, Neluwa, Thawalama, Nagoda, Yakkalamulla, Hiniduma and Nakiyadeniya areas belonging to Galle District making this unit at the Udugama Base Hospital the premier Intensive Care Unit in the Galle District, second only to the Intensive Care Unit at Karapitiya Hospital.
The project has been carried out at a total cost of 100 million rupees by both Watawala Plantation Limited and Tata Communications Lanka Ltd.
The Intensive Care Unit will be declared open to the public by the Galle District Parliamentarian, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation Industries and Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health. Vish Govindasamy, Group Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings, the officials of Watawala Plantation Company, representatives of Tata Communications Lanka Ltd.
And many other distinguished guests are expected to attend the opening.
Residents of the area have been severely affected by the lack of intensive care at the Udugama Hospital and the donation has been made at the request of the hospital's development committee.
The Watawala Plantation Company states that the Staff of the Udugama Hospital Committee, the health staff of the hospital and the Sri Lankan Army also contributed to building this Intensive Care Unit.
The staff of the Udugama Hospital has also been trained in Intensive Care parallel to the construction of this Unit.
Commenting on WPL’s latest contribution to the community, Sunshine Holdings Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy said, “Since the onset of the pandemic, Watawala Plantations has supported the efforts of the government of Sri Lanka to ensure that critical healthcare is provided, especially to the most vulnerable. For us, the safety and well-being of people have always been key priorities and hence our outreach to communities since the first wave of COVID-19 started. We are glad to lend our support and augment the Intensive Care facilities at the Udugama Base Hospital—a 5-bed facility including critical life-saving medical equipment with an investment of Rs. 100 million. With TAL Communications joining hands with us as a supporting partner, the facility we are providing today will boost the local healthcare system to respond to the current situation and in the longer run. WPL is committed to strengthening Sri Lanka’s health system readiness, which is vital for the pandemic response in the long term.”
Construction work of this Intensive Care Unit was carried out under the supervision of the Udugama Hospital Development Committee.