Sri Lanka’s Health authorities have ordered an immediate temporary evacuation of the main eight-storey Negombo Hospital over concerns that its structure is unsafe. This follows an emergency meeting in the hospital premises on Friday night that the Director-General of Health Services, Dr Palitha Mahipala had with officials of the Negombo Hospital and other nearby hospitals. [...]

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Emergency evacuation of Negombo Hospital’s patients as building deemed unsafe

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Sri Lanka’s Health authorities have ordered an immediate temporary evacuation of the main eight-storey Negombo Hospital over concerns that its structure is unsafe.

This follows an emergency meeting in the hospital premises on Friday night that the Director-General of Health Services, Dr Palitha Mahipala had with officials of the Negombo Hospital and other nearby hospitals.

Yesterday, the authorities moved patients from the main building to adjacent buildings within the hospital premises. All routine admissions have been halted as of Friday, the Sunday Times learns.

These safety concerns were raised after the Atomic Energy Authority and the Moratuwa University undertook an initial assessment on Friday. The assessment followed complaints of flaws in the building over the years, including cracks, weak concrete slabs and water seepage, leading to water-leaks through the ceiling fans, it is understood.

The original plan was to conduct floor-by-floor tests on the building, while moving the patients on that particular floor, it is learnt. However, the decision to evacuate came after serious safety issues were raised.

This building houses the Surgical, Medical, Ear-Nose-Throat and Eye wards as well as the Preliminary Care Unit, Clinics, Outpatients Dept, Operating Theatres and Intensive Care Units.

The hospital with around 500 beds, serves large numbers of patients from Negombo town and outlying areas.

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