The ‘Hope Cancer Hospital Project’ launched by a number of Sri Lankan cricketers and the Lions Club has ground to a standstill. The project aimed at constructing a new wing for the hospital in Mahargama at a cost of Rs. 750 million.
The Hope Cancer Hospital Committee has informed the Government that they are unable to continue with the much publicised project launched in 2002.
The committee which comprised a number of popular cricketers, members of the Lions Club of Colombo Sommerset has given up on the project as they are faced with difficulties in generating adequate funds for its completion.
Chairman of the committee Mahesh Pasqual told The Sunday Times they had abandoned the project and would be handing it over to the government as soon as the audit on the accounts is completed.
“We collected around Rs. 55 million in the first six months. With these funds we completed the foundation of the main building. The children’s ward which is a one storey building has been built up to the roof level”, he said.
“However many of the donors who pledged funds have gone back on their word and we are not able to continue the project. There is around Rs. 10 to 15 million left in the account. We plan to hand this over to the government,” he said.
He said most of the funds promised to the Hope Cancer Hospital Project were channeled as aid to victims of the 2004 tsunami disaster.
However another director of the project, Mr. Senarath Jayawardena, father of cricketer Mahela Jayawardena told the Sunday Times he was not aware the committee had decided to hand the project over to the Government.
“For such a letter to be sent to the Government approval of the committee is required. To my knowledge we have not passed a resolution nor given approval to this effect,” he said.
He added his son Mahela, who initially initiated the project was determined to finish at least two storeys of the building before handing it over to the Government. He appealed to individuals and organizations to help his son achieve this goal.
A director of the Cancer Hospital Dr. (Mrs) Sulochana Yoganathan said the hospital planned to change the name of the project and carry it forward once the project was handed over to the Government.
“We want to establish a fund similar to ‘Friends of LRH, titled ‘Friends of Cancer Hospital’ where the directors of the cancer hospital will be the officers responsible for it,” she said.
Dr. Yoganathan told the Sunday Times the hospital is in need of more beds for patients. “At present the average midnight head count of patients is 950. But we have a total of only 750 beds. Over 200 patients are thus compelled to sleep on the floor, in the corridors and even near toilets,” she explained,
She added that since part of a ward was pulled down to put up the Hope Cancer Building, the problem has
worsened. |
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