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Kandy Hospital reclaiming its land from illegal occupiers
View(s):The National Hospital Kandy, the second largest hospital in the country has revived its battle to repossess some 25 acres of its land occupied by squatters over the years.
Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa gave an update in Parliament this week on measures taken by authorities including the Kandy hospital.
In 2018, the number of families illegally occupying lands was 169 and in 2023 this had risen to 181 and by last year it had surged to 270.
Director of the National Hospital Kandy, Dr. Iresha Fernando told the Sunday Times that several measures have been initiated to repossess. These include filing legal action, acting through local authorities and administrative actions.
The hospital officially has 58.6 acres of land on record, but in reality nearly 50% of it has been lost to squatters who have put up hotels, commercial buildings, and houses among others.
One process is to issue gazette notices on some of the hospital lands through the Health Ministry.
Dr. Fernando said a document issued in 1971 by the then Government Agent related to the land belonging to the Health Department has been found.
Already the hospital has served 10 eviction orders through the courts and evicted two families and others are to be effected through fiscal authorities.
Dr Fernando said discussions have also taken place with the Kandy Municipal Council to request non issuance of unauthorised electricity and water connections.
The hospital authorities have also started fencing their lands to prevent further encroachment.
Dr. Jayatissa told Parliament illegal encroachment impedes building works. “We need to carry out some urgent development activities at the hospital, but have been prevented from doing so.’’
He said that the hospital is considered to be the second largest hospital and serves not only residents of Kandy but other areas as well.
He said that the Health Ministry is consulting the Attorney General’s Department on action to be taken against a couple of other buildings including a lodge.
Dr. Jayatissa was responding to a question raised by SJB legislator Chamindrani Kiriella about the long standing residents living on hospital land.
Dr. Jayatissa said that their issues will also be taken into consideration.
The Sunday Times in 2014 also highlighted the issue of private dwellings being built on hospital lands. The origins of the Kandy hospital buildings stretch to 1866 when one of the first buildings was opened as a cholera ward. In 1861, an infectious disease hospital was established in Deyyannewela (the smallpox hospital) which was expanded as the Kandy hospital.
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