Persistent water leaks have severely impacted the theatre complexes at the National Hospital Colombo’s Accident Service for over a month, with no repairs carried out despite ongoing surgeries, hospital sources revealed.
The ground-floor complex—housing the Casualty, Vascular, and Orthopaedic theatres, which operate around the clock—has endured continuous leaks for more than 30 days, raising serious concerns among medical staff.
On the first floor, the situation is even more critical, with water reportedly dripping onto the operating table during procedures in one of the five orthopaedic theatres, potentially compromising the sterile environment and endangering patient safety.
Staff have also reported water seeping into the nearby doctors’ tea room, contributing to already strained working conditions.
The crisis is further complicated by the absence of a permanent hospital director for the past three months, creating a leadership vacuum at a time of urgent need.
Although a senior hospital official acknowledged the issue and claimed that steps are being taken to resolve it, sources say no visible action has been taken on-site, despite repeated warnings about the potential risks.
