Billions in Donated Medical Equipment Rotting in Sri Lankan Hospitals, Ministry Launches Probe
By Lions Roar News Health Desk
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (Thursday, January 15, 2026) — A shocking revelation from health sector sources has emerged, disclosing that over 2,000 pieces of high-value medical equipment, donated by foreign entities and worth billions of rupees, are lying idle across Sri Lanka’s hospital system.
Despite being intended to save lives, these sophisticated machines have never been used, primarily due to high operational costs and their incompatibility with the local healthcare infrastructure.
📉 The Apeksha Hospital Case: A Rs. 480 Million Paperweight
The most glaring example of this mismanagement is found at the Maharagama Apeksha (Cancer) Hospital.
- The Equipment: A state-of-the-art Genetic Analysis Machine valued at approximately Rs. 480 million (48 Crores).
- The Issue: The machine has remained inactive for over six years because the hospital lacks the necessary raw materials and reagents to operate it.
- The Cost of Idleness: While the machine remains unused, the government is forced to spend massive amounts annually on its maintenance to prevent it from deteriorating completely.
🏛️ Government Response: “Incompatible Donations”
Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni confirmed that many of these “white elephant” donations were accepted during the previous administration’s tenure without proper feasibility studies.
“We have called for a report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) regarding the genetic analysis machine. Many of these machines are simply too expensive for a country like Sri Lanka to maintain and operate on a daily basis.” — Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Deputy Health Minister
The Minister noted that the high cost of consumables and specialized technical requirements makes these machines a burden rather than a benefit to the current health budget.
🛡️ New Policy: No More “Blind” Acceptance
To prevent future waste, the Ministry of Health is implementing a new screening process for foreign donations. Moving forward, equipment will only be accepted if:
- It is compatible with Sri Lanka’s existing healthcare protocols.
- The operational and maintenance costs are sustainable for the national budget.
- A steady supply of consumables/reagents is guaranteed.
