The government is of the opinion that it is time the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, considered the apex centre of the Sri Lankan health system, is refurbished to meet demand.

Accordingly, the proposal by Health Minister (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne, to implement renovate the Old Victoria Building and the Bandaranaike Building as well as the doctors and nurses quarters, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers this week. 

The National Hospital is a government hospital, founded in 1864. The hospital currently has 3,382 beds, 18 intensive care units and 21 operating theaters. It employs 7,500 staff of which 1,500 are doctors. The hospital carries out 5,000 major and minor surgeries each month and treats over two million out patients a year.