First pediatric kidney transplant outside children’s hospital performed in Polonnaruwa

Colombo, May 25 (Daily Mirror) - The first pediatric kidney transplant performed at a peripheral hospital outside a children's hospital in Sri Lanka has been successfully completed at the Polonnaruwa China-Sri Lanka Friendship Kidney Hospital, health officials announced.

According to the hospital, a kidney transplant for a 15-year-old patient was successfully carried out on May 7, with the kidney donated by the child’s father. Both the child and the donor are currently recovering well and showing positive progress.

Director of the hospital, Specialist Dr. Dilka Saranasinghe, said that the successful surgery marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector and demonstrates the hospital’s readiness to provide pediatric kidney transplant services according to future national requirements.

She said that while pediatric kidney transplant procedures are conducted in countries such as India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, the high financial burden associated with overseas treatment remains a major challenge for many Sri Lankan families.

Health authorities said the achievement opens the way for expanding specialized kidney care services for children within Sri Lanka, reducing the need for patients to seek expensive treatment abroad.

To provide further details on the successful transplant and outline the hospital’s future surgical plans, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, together with the Polonnaruwa China-Sri Lanka Friendship Kidney Hospital, will hold a media briefing on Tuesday, May 26 at 10.00 a.m. at the hospital auditorium.

The briefing will feature Specialist Dr. Dilka Saranasinghe, Pediatric Kidney Specialist Dr. Venujaya Bandara, Vascular Tissue and Vessel Transplant Specialist Dr. Manujaya Godakandage, and Specialist Anesthetist Dr. Jeewaka Kulathissa.