Dialog Completes Restoration at Divisional Hospital, Kothmale

Unveiling of the plaque. From left to right: Asith De Silva, Senior Manager Social Innovation, Dialog Axiata PLC; Dr. Niranji Wijesuriya, Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS), Nuwara Eliya District; Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, Sri Lanka; Anushka Thilakarathne, Member of Parliament, Nuwara Eliya District; Jagath Adhikari, Secretary, Central Provincial Ministry of Health; Dr. Himesh Weeratunga, Divisional Medical officer, Kotmale Hospital; Ajith Muramudali, Chairman, Kotmale Pradeshiya Sabha

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, marked the completion of its restoration initiative at Divisional Hospital, Kothmale, gifting the hospital a fully equipped Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). Featuring state-of-the-art medical equipment, the new facility will strengthen emergency treatment services and improve access to timely medical care for patients in Kothmale and surrounding communities.

The initiative forms part of Dialog’s broader LKR 420 million post-Ditwah recovery programme to restore and strengthen critical healthcare and education infrastructure across Sri Lanka. Following the completion of restoration work at District General Hospital, Chilaw, in October, Kothmale marks the second hospital to benefit under the programme, with further healthcare restoration initiatives planned in the coming months. The programme also includes the development of IT infrastructure in 20 schools to strengthen access to digital education.

The new Emergency Treatment Unit was officially declared open on 5 November 2026 by Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, in the presence of Dr. Himesh Weeratunga, Divisional Medical Officer, Kothmale Hospital, Mr. Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC and Mr. Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC, together with government representatives, healthcare officials, hospital management and staff.

Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, said, “A strong public healthcare system must ensure that quality medical services are accessible to people across the country, regardless of where they live. Strengthening hospitals at the community level is essential to achieving this, particularly when it comes to emergency care, where timely treatment can make a critical difference. The Government remains committed to improving healthcare infrastructure and services nationwide, and partnerships with organisations such as Dialog play an important role in supporting these efforts. We appreciate Dialog’s continued contribution, from the recent restoration at Chilaw to this new facility in Kothmale, and its commitment to supporting the healthcare needs of our people.”

Mr. Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC, said, “Our commitment to Sri Lanka’s recovery is not simply about rebuilding what was affected, but about helping communities emerge stronger and better prepared for the future. The completion of this facility in Kothmale marks another important step in that journey, building on our recent contribution in Chilaw. We are privileged to work alongside the Government and healthcare professionals to deliver improvements that will serve communities for years to come. It is through sustained efforts such as these that we hope to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of Sri Lankans.”

The completion of the Kothmale facility follows Dialog’s restoration initiative at District General Hospital, Chilaw, where a fully equipped Operating Theatre and upgraded Endoscopy Unit were handed over in October 2026. Together, these initiatives reflect Dialog’s continued efforts to strengthen essential healthcare services, from emergency treatment to surgical and diagnostic care.

Building on its longstanding contribution to Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector, Dialog continues to work alongside the Government and healthcare institutions to strengthen essential public services, support communities and contribute towards the country’s long-term development.

Invitees visiting the upgraded Emergency Treatment Unit at the Divisional Hospital, Kothmale