NO 1 HOSPITAL OF SLAF BASE KATUNAYAKE CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY
4:21pm on Monday 25th July 2022
The No 1 Hospital of SLAF Base Katunayake celebrated its 75th Anniversary on 23rd July 2022. The Hospital SLAF Base Katunayake has a noteworthy and illustrious history and has made remarkable strides since its inauguration as the Royal Air Force Hospital, Negombo on the 23rd July 1947 under the command of Wing Commander AS Amsden as its 1st Commanding Officer. During the Korean War the Hospital took under task of holding aero medical evacuation of patients returning from the front, whilst they were in transit through Ceylon.
In 1949, it was renamed as Royal Air Force Hospital Katunayake. At this time Royal Air Force patients from Far East were brought to Katunayake for surgeries and eminent surgeons such as Prof. Milroy Pereis and Prof RA Nawarathne, Consultant Surgeons operated on them at the theater of the Hospital. The Medical Branch of the “Royal Ceylon Air Force” began with the commissioning of Flight Lieutenant S. Ismael on 6 February 1952, who was regularly flown by Helicopter to Katunayake to review the daily sick parade at the “Royal Ceylon Air Force Base, Hospital” Katunayake.
The Royal Ceylon Air Force Hospital pulled out as one of the last serving British units and formed as an independent unit in March 1960 when the command was ceremonially handed over by Group Captain H W Whittingham to Flight Lieutenant Dr. Puvimanasinghe, who later went on to become the Director Health Services of SLAF in 1977. Since then this hospital has been led by several Commanding Officers who along with Medical Officers, Nursing Assistants and Medical Tradesmen have been instrumental in providing a home for an inestimable number of infirm Servicemen whilst nurturing them back to good health.
This hospital has also been contributory in upholding the mission of the Sri Lanka Air Force by consistent development of infrastructure and establishment of secondary care facilities over the years. Most recent projects include the establishment of the “Hemodialysis Unit” and the “Retired ward complex”. In addition to this, it is noteworthy that No 1 Hospital of SLAF Base Katunayake was the focal point of prevention and treatment with the infamous COVID - 19 infections at the height of the world pandemic.
To mark this momentous occasion of “75 Years of Service” the Commanding Officer, Air Commodore Neeluka Abeysekera with all staff posted at No 01 SLAF Base Hospital Katunayake conducted several events since 18th July 2022, such as a mindfulness programme to benefit the Mental Health of serving members of SLAF Base Katunayake, a Blood donation Campaign, a cancer detection programme for all women and members of the Seva Vanitha Unit, SLAF Base Katunayake, customary working parade and tree planting programme with the participation of retired and past Commanding Officers and Hospital Warrant Officers, a medical/dental and mental wellbeing clinic for around 100 Orphans at Wehihena, Kochchikade with providing meals and entertainment for them.
Air Vice Marshall Dr. Lalith Jayaweera, the Director Health Services of SLAF and Air Commodore Lasitha Sumanaweera Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake were also participated at the above occasions.
In 1949, it was renamed as Royal Air Force Hospital Katunayake. At this time Royal Air Force patients from Far East were brought to Katunayake for surgeries and eminent surgeons such as Prof. Milroy Pereis and Prof RA Nawarathne, Consultant Surgeons operated on them at the theater of the Hospital. The Medical Branch of the “Royal Ceylon Air Force” began with the commissioning of Flight Lieutenant S. Ismael on 6 February 1952, who was regularly flown by Helicopter to Katunayake to review the daily sick parade at the “Royal Ceylon Air Force Base, Hospital” Katunayake.
The Royal Ceylon Air Force Hospital pulled out as one of the last serving British units and formed as an independent unit in March 1960 when the command was ceremonially handed over by Group Captain H W Whittingham to Flight Lieutenant Dr. Puvimanasinghe, who later went on to become the Director Health Services of SLAF in 1977. Since then this hospital has been led by several Commanding Officers who along with Medical Officers, Nursing Assistants and Medical Tradesmen have been instrumental in providing a home for an inestimable number of infirm Servicemen whilst nurturing them back to good health.
This hospital has also been contributory in upholding the mission of the Sri Lanka Air Force by consistent development of infrastructure and establishment of secondary care facilities over the years. Most recent projects include the establishment of the “Hemodialysis Unit” and the “Retired ward complex”. In addition to this, it is noteworthy that No 1 Hospital of SLAF Base Katunayake was the focal point of prevention and treatment with the infamous COVID - 19 infections at the height of the world pandemic.
To mark this momentous occasion of “75 Years of Service” the Commanding Officer, Air Commodore Neeluka Abeysekera with all staff posted at No 01 SLAF Base Hospital Katunayake conducted several events since 18th July 2022, such as a mindfulness programme to benefit the Mental Health of serving members of SLAF Base Katunayake, a Blood donation Campaign, a cancer detection programme for all women and members of the Seva Vanitha Unit, SLAF Base Katunayake, customary working parade and tree planting programme with the participation of retired and past Commanding Officers and Hospital Warrant Officers, a medical/dental and mental wellbeing clinic for around 100 Orphans at Wehihena, Kochchikade with providing meals and entertainment for them.
Air Vice Marshall Dr. Lalith Jayaweera, the Director Health Services of SLAF and Air Commodore Lasitha Sumanaweera Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake were also participated at the above occasions.
