First Lady Visits Jaffna Hospital and Donates Items
[Updated :: 2010-07-12 18:25:40 Hours]

First Lady Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa on Sunday (11.07.2010) paid a surprise visit to the eye ward of Teaching hospital Jaffna to inquire into health of patients now undergoing treatment after cataract surgery conducted by Indian doctors under a special programme sponsored by Veteran Bollywood actor Mr. Salman Khan.

Pleased with peaceful environment prevailing in the island in the aftermath of the conflict and to endorse the present development programme being implemented in Jaffna, Mr. Salman Khan during his stay in the island for IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Award ceremony sought consent of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to sponsor 500 cataract surgeries for Sri Lankan patients waiting for surgery.

Specialists were brought down from India at the expense of Salman Khan Foundation in Mumbai for the purpose. Out of the promised 500 surgeries, 110 were done at Jaffna hospital by Dr. Nikhil Labhsetwar and Dr. Rajendra H. Jadev from Mumbai over three days.

Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s visit marked the completion of third day of this meritorious act arranged by Presidential Secretariat. First Lady, after her meeting with inmates of the eye ward, also donated some lenses, eye drops and equipment to be used in cataract surgeries to the hospital.

Famous South Indian actress Aseena, Member of Parliament Dr. Mrs. Sudarshani Fernando Pulle, Director Teaching Hospital Jaffna Dr. S. Sribhavanandarajah and members of the medical staff were present on the occasion.