A historic initiative to make available for public use several million rupees’ worth of advanced equipment for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment, which had remained unused at the Women’s Health Care and Specialized Maternity Treatment Centre built at the Kilinochchi District General Hospital with financial assistance from the Government of the Netherlands, was officially inaugurated today – on Friday 19 June 2026, through the direct intervention of the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
A notable feature of this development is that Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and IVF treatment facilities have now been established and commenced in a government hospital in Sri Lanka.
This specialized care centre was established at the Kilinochchi Hospital under a project to strengthen healthcare services in the Northern Province, with assistance from the Government of the Netherlands. State of the art equipment for IVF treatment had also been provided. However, due to various reasons, these facilities remained unused for a prolonged period.
Recognizing this issue, Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan gave special attention to the matter last year and initiated high level discussions aimed at bringing these advanced facilities into operation. As a result, a special agreement was signed between the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna and the Northern Provincial Council. Consequently, this service was officially handed over for public use today – on Friday (19 June 2026).
As the first phase of the project, four women who successfully met the required medical, physical, and psychological criteria following various assessments and examinations have been selected. IVF treatment for these women commenced today at the Kilinochchi District Hospital and is being provided completely free of charge.
This major collaborative project is being implemented with the joint contribution of the Provincial Ministry of Health – Northern Province, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna, the Kilinochchi District Hospital, and the Kilinochchi District Patients’ Welfare Association.
In particular, the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Surgery, and Community and Family Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, have provided their academic and clinical expertise to the project. Furthermore, the Canada Jaffna Medical Faculty Alumni Association has generously provided financial assistance and sponsorships to support the temporary human resources required for the successful implementation of the project.
The introduction of this special service marks a significant milestone in the provincial healthcare sector and offers a rare opportunity for couples in the region facing fertility challenges to receive advanced treatment completely free of charge.
Meanwhile, it is also noteworthy that an additional 58 staff positions have been approved for the Kilinochchi District Hospital by the Department of Management Services.
