President Maithripala Sirisena laid the foundation stone for the National Nephrology Specialized Hospital in Polonnaruwa, fully funded by the People’s Republic of China.

The Asia, which is designed to be Asia's biggest kidney hospital, is to be constructed at a cost of Rs.12,000 million.

The hospital will include facilities for kidney transplant surgeries, blood dialysis services, clinical service, laboratory service and counseling service. The hospital consists of a Basic Treatment Unit, Out Patients’ Department, Wards with 200 beds to treat residential patients, 100 blood dialysis beds, surgeries with modern technology, two Intensive Care Units and a blood bank.

Speaking at the occasion the President said the international cooperation and the friendship, earned by the country will be fully used to achieve development goals of Sri Lanka.

"During the last three years, I managed to draw the support of the international community in an unprecedented manner," adding that his recent foreign tours were testimony to that.

The President thanked China for funding the hospital - an outcome of his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, two years ago.