Malabe: Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) conducted an official inspection visit to the Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) following a recent Cabinet decision to transfer the hospital’s management to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, the Commander of the Air Force.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, a focused discussion was held during the visit to evaluate the hospital’s current status, long-term vision, and primary objectives for advancing medical facilities and services. The SLAF now manages NFTH as per the Cabinet’s decision on February 9, 2026.

Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalith Jayaweera, Director General of Health Services of the SLAF, presented a comprehensive briefing on the hospital’s ongoing projects, operational strengths, and future expansion plans to address emerging healthcare needs. The discussions also covered infrastructure development, financial planning, and inter-agency coordin
ation for the project’s timely implementation.

The Defence Secretary underscored the necessity of collaborative efforts to transform NFTH into a state-of-the-art medical facility, highlighting that such improvements would significantly bolster the nation’s healthcare sector.

The visit was attended by senior SLAF officers and representatives from several key ministries.