The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I must respond to my colleague from our District. As an Opposition MP in 2017–2018, Parliament approved converting Kalutara District General Hospital (Nagoda) into a Teaching Hospital and building the University of Moratuwa Medical Faculty at Nagoda. For various reasons it was delayed, and instead Neville Fernando Hospital, Malabe, was designated as the teaching facility—an incorrect decision. If Nagoda, with its large and diverse patient load, was made the teaching hospital alongside the Moratuwa Faculty, it would significantly uplift district health services.

¶ 02 Accordingly, by June this year, the Moratuwa University Medical Faculty’s professorial unit will commence at Kalutara Teaching Hospital with several Nagoda wards allocated. Land has been identified at the Nagoda Depot site for the permanent Faculty; this will take about three years. Parallel to this, we hope to develop Panadura Base Hospital, Horana, and other district hospitals, advancing both district development and national needs. Please support us to carry this forward.