President agreed to deploy Army to restore Polonnaruwa Nephrology Hospital: Maithripala

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has agreed to deploy the Sri Lanka Army to assist in restoring the National Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa following the explosion that damaged part of the hospital, former President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Speaking to reporters following a visit to the hospital, Sirisena said he had discussed the incident and the damage caused to the facility with President Dissanayake.

According to Sirisena, the President had asked him what immediate action was required, to which he had stressed the need to restore the damaged building and resume normal hospital operations as soon as possible.

Sirisena said President Dissanayake then proposed deploying the Army to assist with the reconstruction work, a move he welcomed. He said the President had assured him that the Army would be informed and that he expected restoration work to begin soon.

Expressing sadness over the incident, Sirisena said he had received several calls shortly after the explosion and later received photographs showing the extent of the damage.

He recalled that the hospital was constructed with Chinese assistance following a request he had made to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to China, adding that the facility was particularly important to him.

“This incident is deeply regrettable. I received several calls soon after it happened, and by afternoon I saw photographs of the damage to the building. It was very painful to see,” Sirisena said.

He also noted that one hospital employee had died and several others had been injured in the explosion.

The former President said he had informed the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador about the incident and had also written to Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa regarding measures required to restore hospital operations and provide necessary assistance.

Sirisena expressed confidence that, with the support of the President, the Government and the Chinese Government, the hospital could be restored and its operations returned to normal.

The explosion occurred at around 4.30 am on Saturday (26) at the kitchen premises of the National Nephrology Hospital, injuring several people and causing extensive damage to the building housing the kitchen.

One hospital employee later died from injuries sustained in the explosion, while Police launched an investigation into the incident. (Newswire)

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