Cardiac catheterization facilities are currently operational in only a few government hospitals, despite being a key intervention identified in the National Health Master Plan for the treatment of non-communicable diseases.
Originally launched in 2018 with funding of 10,639 million Japanese Yen from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project aimed to establish cardiac catheterization units, intensive care units, operating theaters, general cardiac wards, and related infrastructure in five major hospitals: Kandy National Hospital, Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, Badulla Teaching Hospital, and Trincomalee District General Hospital.
However, the project stalled in 2022 due to the economic crisis and rising costs, increasing the total estimated cost by 2,833 million Japanese Yen. The Cabinet-approved proposal, submitted by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, includes a revised project scope and an extended timeline, with completion now scheduled by 31 December 2029.
