Cancer hospital to be renamed

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry will re-name the Maharagama Cancer Hospital without the word `cancer' as requested by a large number of individuals, organisations and clergy, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said that recently Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera made a special request to Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva stating that the present name of the cancer hospital should be replaced with a suitable name excluding the word `cancer'. The Ministry has already received a large number of similar requests from various individuals, organisations, doctors and others.

According to the spokesman Minister De Silva has already informed several professors of the Sinhala language to find another suitable Sinhala word for `Pilika' (cancer) in order to re-name the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. The English name of the hospital will remain as it is, because it does not have a significant impact on the common society in the country.

The previous name of the Angoda Mental Health Institute (present name) created a huge negative impact on common society and the people living at Angoda faced numerous difficulties because of the old name of the hospital (Angoda Mental Hospital).