Maliboda is a remote, picturesque village located about 18 kilometresfrom Deraniyagala in Sri Lanka’s Sabaragamuwa Province. Famous for its waterfalls, tea estates, and a less-travelled trail to Sripada, Maliboda is accessible only via a narrow, winding road in poor condition. The village, home primarily to estate workers, is served by just a single bus, making travel to town extremely difficult when the service is unavailable. Therefore, what was once the Maliboda Divisional Hospital, now downgraded to a Primary Medical Care Unit, is a vital lifeline for the villagers.
However, the unit has remained non-functional for the past week, as the only assigned doctor is currently on maternity leave and no replacement has been appointed by the health authorities. This has sparked growing concern among villagers, who fear the hospital may once again become defunct just as it did in the past, given the authorities’ continued lack of interest in developing and maintaining the facility.
Estate workers
According to villager and activist Roshan Chathuranga, the hospital was originally built during the British colonial era to serve estate workers in the area. “It once met all the medical needs of our community, including childbirth,” he said, adding that many older residents were born at the Maliboda Hospital. However, the hospital was forced to close down in the late 1990s due to a lack of resources and staff, as authorities failed to provide adequate facilities.
Although it remained closed for nearly three decades, the hospital was reopened and made operational during the Covid-19 pandemic, following repeated appeals by the villagers. “When we arrived to renovate the hospital during the Covid-19 period, we found the ambulance abandoned and rusting away, left exactly as it was years ago,” he said.
“This is evidence of the country’s governance over the past 76 years,” he said. Roshan accused the authorities of taking no further steps to develop the hospital beyond appointing a single doctor and two support staff.
In contrast, the community has worked tirelessly to keep the hospital running. Last month, villagers came together for a Shramadana campaign to clean the facility, and they plan to hold another one later this month.
But now, with the only doctor on leave, nearly 300 patients who depend on the clinic have been left in limbo. “People are now concerned that, with no replacement doctor appointed, the hospital may once again cease to function as it did in the past,” he said.
Great stress
The fear among the people that the hospital may be shut down again has now become a source of great stress. This is because if the medical facility shuts down, villagers will be forced to travel over 18 kilometres to the Deraniyagala Divisional Hospital. “When the bus isn’t available, the only option is to hire a three-wheeler, which costs around Rs. 3,000 one way. This expense is unaffordable for most villagers, who are primarily estate workers whose daily wage is around Rs. 1,000,” he said, adding that many of their medical needs would go unmet if the Maliboda unit remains non-functional.
According to Roshan, the villagers are also eager to see the unit restored to a full hospital, as it once was. “We believe that with some necessary developments, this is achievable. It would be a tremendous service to the community,” he added.
Roshan emphasized the urgent need for concrete steps to keep the Maliboda medical facility operational, highlighting the strong community support behind its renovation. He expressed optimism that with a Government committed to free healthcare, it is practical to revitalise the unit by ensuring adequate medical staffing.
His proposals include appointing a dedicated doctor and at least two nurses, assigning medical students from the nearby Avissawella and Karawanella base hospitals for clinical training, and facilitating transfers of healthcare workers from the area who are currently posted far from Deraniyagala. He suggested creating voluntary duty opportunities for qualified nurses and expediting the recruitment of allied health graduates to serve at the hospital. According to Roshan, implementing these strategies can effectively restore and sustain the hospital’s vital services for the local community.
Human resources
Roshan said that the development and proper functioning of the hospital depend entirely on the authorities’ commitment to provide both physical infrastructure and adequate human resources. He urged the responsible officials to formalise these plans without delay and to assign the necessary medical staff to the hospital as soon as possible.
The future of Maliboda’s healthcare hinges on timely and decisive action from the authorities. With the community’s unwavering support and clear, practical proposals in place, Roshan said it is now up to the authorities to step up and ensure that this vital medical facility not only remains open but is fully equipped to serve the needs of its people. The residents of Maliboda deserve no less than a reliable, accessible healthcare service that honours the legacy of their once-thriving hospital and safeguards their well-being for generations to come.
