Nawaloka Hospital celebrates 25 years

Nawaloka Hospitals which celebrated 25 years of service in September is drawing out a long-term expansion plan amid efforts to widen its portfolio of services and maintain its superior status in the country's healthcare sector.

Deputy Chairman, Jayantha Dharmadasa

Chairman H K Dharmadasa

The hospital was established in 1985 as Sri Lanka's first fully-fledged private hospital with an initial capacity of 100 beds, and has today expanded its capacity to over 400 beds and 13 surgical theatres.

It has also won the status of being 'first' to offer specialized treatments and to introduce state-of-the-art technology in the local healthcare circle in the past two and a half decades.

"We took a huge risk in setting up a private hospital at that time, but today our venture has become a huge success! During that time, people didn't have an option but to go overseas to receive specialized treatment - and only a handful could afford it. With Nawaloka, our vision was to set up a private hospital with a range of services that would be regarded as a general hospital by the public," Nawaloka Hospitals Deputy Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said.

Nawaloka was the first hospital in Sri Lanka to introduce CT and MRI scanners. It also conducted the first coronary artery bypass surgery at a private hospital in the country, introduced laser eye surgery, and more recently launched the country's first breast cancer screening unit. It is also the country's only private hospital to receive ISO certification and a National Quality Award, and in November 2000 was awarded 'Baby-friendly hospital' status from the WHO and the United Nation Children's Fund.

With the view in providing the best in care we have introduced a state of the art technologically advanced CT scanner for the convenience of all our patrons who seek unmatched medical attention. We also plans to introduce a cutting edge world class modern MRI Scanner for precision diagnostics and detection. This we believe would be the best and the most advanced MRI scanner in the country.