COLOMBO: India has requested the Sri Lankan government to take over the Indian hospital at Cheddikulam, in the northern district of Vavuniya, which was set up to meet the emergent needs of the Tamil war refugees six months ago.
“Since most of the emergent needs of the new arrivals in Menik Farms have now been met, it is our intention to withdraw the Indian medical team and close down the hospital with effect from 31 August 2009,” the Indian High Commissioner, Alok Prasad, said in a letter to the Sri Lankan Health Minister, Nimal Sripala de Silva.
Since a “very useful” facility had been set up, and the physical infrastructure of the hospital would remain in place, the Sri Lankan government could consider taking it over and running it from August 31, 2009, Prasad added.
The Indian medical team arrived in the island on March 10 and set up a hospital in Pulmoddai in the eastern district of Trincomalee to treat medical evacuees being brought by ship by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Later, India and Sri Lanka decided to shift the hospital to the refugee camp at Menik Farm (Cheddikulam) in Vavuniya district to cater to the medical requirements of refugees who had started arriving in large numbers.
The hospital at Zone 1 of Menik Farm had been functioning since May 26. The Indian doctors and paramedics have so far treated 19,000 cases.