TRANSITION Of NFTH TO SLAF MANAGEMENT UNDERWAY
Following a cabinet decision on 17 February
2026, the operational management of Dr Neville Fernando Teaching
Hospital (NFTH) has been transferred to the Sri Lanka Air Force. The
hospital, which was established in 2013 by Dr Neville Fernando as a
teaching hospital for SAITM, and was previously handed over to the
Government in 2017.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) along with Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, visited NFTH today (23 February 2026) to discuss the transition arrangements and future operational management of the hospital.
The discussion was attended by the Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, Director General Health Services, Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalitha Jayaweera, Members of the Air Force Board of Management and senior officials of NFTH. The meeting focused on the modalities of the transition and the steps required to ensure continuity of services under the new management structure.
Director General Health Services, Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalitha Jayaweera presented a transition plan outlining the integration of SLAF Hospital Colombo and SLAF Dental Hospital Colombo with NFTH.
Following the meeting, the Secretary of Defence, together with the Commander of the Air Force and other officials, conducted a tour of the hospital to review its facilities and current operational status.
The transfer of operational management of NFTH enables the SLAF to establish tertiary care medical facilities for serving and retired Air Force personnel and their families, thereby strengthening the healthcare services available to SLAF members.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) along with Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, visited NFTH today (23 February 2026) to discuss the transition arrangements and future operational management of the hospital.
The discussion was attended by the Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, Director General Health Services, Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalitha Jayaweera, Members of the Air Force Board of Management and senior officials of NFTH. The meeting focused on the modalities of the transition and the steps required to ensure continuity of services under the new management structure.
Director General Health Services, Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Lalitha Jayaweera presented a transition plan outlining the integration of SLAF Hospital Colombo and SLAF Dental Hospital Colombo with NFTH.
Following the meeting, the Secretary of Defence, together with the Commander of the Air Force and other officials, conducted a tour of the hospital to review its facilities and current operational status.
The transfer of operational management of NFTH enables the SLAF to establish tertiary care medical facilities for serving and retired Air Force personnel and their families, thereby strengthening the healthcare services available to SLAF members.
