The History of Medicine in Sri Lanka has been fashioned over the centuries by a synthesis of several intrinsic an extrinsic factors, which were unique to the country. Being an island Sri Lanka insulated to a large extent from external forces influencing medicine.

Sri Lanka was ruled by its own kings from the inception of its written history until1815, when the British conquered the Kandyan Kingdom Considerable information on the structure of the medical system that prevailed during this period is available from literacy and archaeological sources. The ancient chronicle the Mahawansa, is undoubtedly the richest single source of such information. In that time there were several Hospitals. more >>

The Colombo Hospital was situated in the Fort which originally came within the fortification built by the Dutch after their capture of Colombo from the Portuguese.  

The declared intention of the Dutch in establishing the Colombo hospital, as well as the other hospitals, was to look after the health of the officers and other staff serving under the Dutch East India Company. The preamble to the instruction issued to the steward of the hospital states that it has been considered that it is a duty of the Company to restore the health of its officers who are on board ships as well as in the out posts. The Dutch East India Company intended to provide a sufficiently large hospital in Colombo to cater to the local Dutch population as well as floating population. The influx from ships would have been considerable as sickness was rife during long sea voyages. more >>

National Hospital of Sri Lanka (then called General Hospital Colombo) was established in 1864. A sum of £3000 was voted for its establishment by the Governor Sir Henry Ward (1855 – 86) . The General Hospital was built as the successor to the pettah hospital. The outdoor patients Department was set up facing Kinsey Road (then called longden place) In 1885, the hospital had 22 wards with 212 beds.

During the 2nd World War, Army casualties were treated in 8 small buildings at Reagent Street. When the war ended in 1945 these buildings which vacated at Reagent Street became available for National Hospital of Sri Lanka.