Sri Lanka’s first-ever bone marrow and blood cell transplant unit for children with cancer was inaugurated today at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama, marking a major milestone in pediatric cancer care. This state-of-the-art unit, funded through generous donations from devotees of the Kataragama Maha Devalaya, offers new hope to children who previously had to seek expensive treatments abroad.
The unit has the capacity to treat four children simultaneously, providing timely and advanced care that was unavailable in the country until now. Constructed with the support of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the facility is housed within the recently opened four-story pediatric ward at Apeksha Hospital, which was also funded by the Kataragama Devalaya.
Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Kirivehera Temple, expressed gratitude to the devotees whose contributions made this achievement possible. “The funds donated to seek the blessings of the Kataragama deity have now been transformed into this life-saving unit. It is a noble cause that brings happiness to all who contributed,” he said.
Dishan Gunasekara, Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, highlighted the temple’s remarkable financial growth over the years, enabling projects like this. “When I assumed office, the temple’s annual income was around 50 million rupees. Last year, it exceeded 400 million rupees. With these funds, we built this unit and are now completing a 44-bed hospital complex in Kataragama, which is already 80% done,” he said.
Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa commended the initiative, noting that this year’s budget allocates the highest funding ever for the health sector. He emphasized the importance of aligning healthcare development with a long-term national plan. “Our goal is to show the potential of our hospitals in the next 15 years while ensuring access to advanced care for all Sri Lankans,” he said.
The pediatric bone marrow transplant unit represents a significant advancement in Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector, reducing the burden on families who had to seek costly treatments abroad and offering a brighter future for children battling cancer.