Dialog Completes Restoration at District General Hospital, Chilaw

Plaque unveiling of the Operating Theatre of the District General Hospital, Chilaw. From left to right: Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Supun Weerasinghe, Director / Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC; Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath (Retd., Sri Lanka Air Force), Director General, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka; Mr. David Nai Pek Lau, Chairman, Dialog Axiata PLC; Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media; Dr. Sumith Attanayake, Director, District General Hospital, Chilaw; Hiruni Wijesinghe, Member of Parliament; Dr. Dinesh Koggalage, Deputy Director of District General Hospital, Chilaw; Dr. P. A. D. D. S. Ponweera, Regional Director of Health Services, Chilaw

Invitees visiting the upgraded Endoscopy Unit at the District General Hospital, Chilaw.

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, marked the completion of its restoration initiative at District General Hospital, Chilaw, gifting the hospital a fully equipped Operating Theatre and upgraded Endoscopy Unit. The new facilities, equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, will strengthen surgical and diagnostic services and expand access to quality healthcare for patients in Chilaw and surrounding communities.

The initiative forms part of Dialog’s broader post-Ditwah programme to restore and strengthen critical healthcare and education infrastructure across Sri Lanka. Following the cyclone, Dialog committed to supporting the country’s recovery by directing resources towards priority national needs, including the restoration of hospital facilities, the rebuilding of ICT infrastructure in affected schools and initiatives to strengthen national resilience.

The restored facilities were officially handed over and declared open on 7 October 2026 by Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, in the presence of Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath (Retd., Sri Lanka Air Force), Director General, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL); Mr. David Nai Pek Lau, Chairman of Dialog Axiata PLC; and Mr. Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, together with government representatives, healthcare officials, hospital management and staff.

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, said, “Building a stronger healthcare system requires collaboration across government, the private sector and our healthcare institutions, bringing together their respective capabilities in support of national priorities. This initiative demonstrates the value of such collaboration, strengthening surgical and diagnostic services at District General Hospital, Chilaw, and expanding access to quality healthcare for surrounding communities. We appreciate Dialog’s contribution and its continued partnership in supporting healthcare services across Sri Lanka.”

Mr. David Nai Pek Lau, Chairman of Dialog Axiata PLC, said, “As Sri Lanka’s largest foreign investor and a long-standing development partner, Axiata and Dialog have had the privilege of growing alongside this country and its people. We are proud that this initiative will help enhance the care available to patients and communities served by District General Hospital, Chilaw, as part of our continued commitment to making a meaningful difference where it matters most. Through initiatives such as this, we remain committed to creating lasting impact and enriching and empowering Sri Lankan lives and enterprises.”

The contribution builds on Dialog’s longstanding support for Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dialog supported the national response through the establishment of fully equipped Intensive Care Units at the Negombo and Homagama General Hospitals, the provision of PCR testing equipment and other essential medical supplies. Since then, Dialog has continued to work with the Government and healthcare institutions to strengthen critical public healthcare infrastructure and support communities across the country.

The completion of the Chilaw initiative represents another milestone in Dialog’s wider post-disaster recovery programme and its continuing partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka to restore essential services, strengthen community resilience and contribute to the country’s long-term development and recovery.