National Hospital - Sri Lanka

I had a very positive experience at this hospital. The facility itself is quite nice, but what really stands out is the staff. From the moment I arrived, everyone I encountered was incredibly caring, friendly, and helpful. It makes a world of difference when you're dealing with health issues to be surrounded by a team that genuinely seems to care about your well-being. They took the time to listen and assisted me with a great attitude.

Extremely disappointing experience at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. The lack of communication, long waiting times, and poor maintenance create unnecessary stress for patients and their families. As taxpayers, we expect a healthcare system that treats people with dignity and respect. Many staff members seem overwhelmed, but patients are often left without clear information about procedures, delays, or next steps. Hours are wasted simply trying to get answers. The hospital serves thousands of people and deserves better management, better facilities, and a stronger focus on patient care. The doctors and medical professionals work in a critical field, but the overall patient experience is far below the standard that the public deserves.

When it comes to healthcare, the service provided by the National Hospital is truly remarkable. Hats off to the doctors, nurses, attendants, and all staff members who consistently put their patients before themselves. From initial examinations to surgeries and ongoing care, everything is carried out with immense dedication, compassion, and professionalism. Before criticizing the healthcare system, I believe we, as Sri Lankans, should also reflect on our own attitudes and behaviours. I have personally witnessed how tirelessly the National Hospital team works to save lives, treating every patient with equal care and importance. As a society, we should be more appreciative and supportive of their efforts, helping to make their challenging work a little easier. We should always remember that having access to free healthcare is a privilege and a blessing for our country. Before passing judgment or speaking negatively, take a moment to consider the sacrifices these healthcare professionals make every single day. There are many people who are unable to afford the high costs of surgeries, scans, consultations, and other medical treatments. For them, the National Hospital provides hope, relief, and, in many cases, a second chance at life. Before speaking critically or making sweeping judgments, it is important to consider the wider community and the countless lives that depend on this service. For many, this hospital is a place they turn to when all other options have been exhausted. It stands as a beacon of hope, offering care and support regardless of a person's financial circumstances. The value of such a service cannot be measured simply by its challenges or shortcomings. It should also be recognized for the lives it saves, the comfort it provides, and the opportunities it gives people to heal and continue living with dignity. ❤️ The National Hospital continues to do its very best, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their commitment, dedication, and selfless service make an enormous difference to our communities and to countless families across the country. Forever grateful. ❤️

Extremely disappointed with the service standards at this hospital. I have been stuck in a queue for over six hours without being attended to. The delays are largely due to administrative failure: patients who are medically ready for discharge are being held indefinitely because doctors left without signing discharge papers, causing a standstill in ward availability. The lack of professionalism and basic coordination is unacceptable. Management needs to address these internal procedural delays immediately as they are severely impacting patient care.

I am deeply disappointed with the current condition of the National Hospital’s operating theatres. Some of the equipment and machines are not functioning properly, and a few are even broken, which results in inaccurate reports and unsafe conditions for patients. This is extremely dangerous. There is also poor management in assigning staff during operations. I have seen situations where critical surgeries are handled by minor or insufficiently experienced staff, which directly puts patients’ lives at risk. Sadly, some lives have already been lost because of these failures. The Ministry and hospital leadership must focus on this urgent crisis immediately. People pay taxes and deserve a safe, well-maintained, and properly managed national hospital. This issue is not about every staff member—many work hard with dedication. But the mistakes of some, including certain doctors and management decisions, are causing serious harm and weakening the entire healthcare system. Politicians and authorities: please take action and fix this before more lives are affected.🫡

The quality of service provided to patients is unsatisfactory. Staff members often appear to prioritize their personal activities before attending to patients. Furthermore, at the blood sample collection section, patients are forced to stand and wait for several hours, causing significant inconvenience and discomfort. 👎👎👎

The National Hospital staff, especially some doctors and the GMOA union, are not treating patients with proper care or respect. Many doctors don’t provide good service, and when a patient speaks up or points out mistakes, they face revengeful behavior instead of fair treatment. The GMOA seems to care only about themselves. While it may be a strong union, it has become too powerful — almost like running its own government inside the government. This situation has gone beyond control, and it’s deeply unfair to the public who pay taxes to educate and support these doctors. They protect each other even when wrong, and anyone who stands against them faces lifelong problems. GMOA, please use your power to stand with humanity, not selfishness. The government should recognize this growing issue before it becomes even more dangerous — like an octopus spreading its control everywhere.🐙 This message is for those who truly care about this country’s future. Thank you. (Note: Not all staff are the same — there are still a few with kind and caring hearts. May God bless them.) 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Amazing service! After experiencing disrespectful and unethical service at Kalubowila, I had low expectations of government hospitals. But this hospital exceeded my expectations. The staff at room 20 (Rabies Vaccination unit) were kind toward patients, knowledgeable, and professional. The hospital itself was also very clean.

I visited General Hospital Colombo on 3rd October 2025 between 9.15–9.30 AM with my mother, who is a heart patient. We went to Room 603/604 in the cardiology unit, where we met Dr. P.P. Sathananthan (Senior Doctor). My mother is elderly and cannot remember past medical details clearly. Instead of showing patience and understanding, Dr. Sathananthan insulted us repeatedly. He asked me what symptoms my mother had back in 2019, and when I tried to answer, he told me I had “failed.” He then mocked me, laughing in a humiliating manner. This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable from a senior doctor. Patients and their families come here for medical care, not to be ridiculed. His unkind and arrogant attitude shows no professionalism or compassion. On top of this, the attendants in that ward behave like they own the hospital, not allowing patients or visitors to sit or stand freely, adding to the frustration. Because of this awful experience, I will never again take my mother to General Hospital Colombo.And even if Sathananthan works at a private hospital, I will never show my mother to that person again, no matter where he practices. Private hospitals may be expensive, but at least they treat patients with kindness and respect unlike this pathetic experience at a government hospital.

Im get bad experience today at this place. OPD doctors are you getting fun with patients lives ? Really heart less OPD doctors in this hospital. I am deeply disappointed with the current condition of the National Hospital’s OPD team.

This hospital provided free health care so I don't really complain about the service. Yes, it's not as clean as the private hospitals but given the sheer number of patients visiting, this hospital is the best to go to. If fact, I've heard many stories where patients were referred to this hospital from private ones when the situation gets very serious.

Brought my son from Ahangama all the way here for an infection treatment. Doctors done a great job, very helpful. Our stay in Colombo was longer than usual this time. Thanks for the hospital staff again.

This is the base hospital colombo. Good service.

My grandfather went to the Colombo General Hospital to get an angiogram. The date was in March 2026. Our grandfather went to get the date in May 2025. The staff said they did not have the necessary supplies. Our grandfather was a staff member at the Colombo General Hospital. When my grandfather worked at the hospital, he was a person who helped a lot to keep people alive. However, the current staff is useless. Our grandfather died in October 2025. He had 8 heart attacks.

The heart of medical treatment in Sri Lanka. It's the end point for many medical cases unless it's a specific problem such as regarding paediatric, gyn and Obs , mental health etc. It got the best doctors in the country and provides many facilities that are not available in other government hospitals. NHSL is a hospital complex with desperate sections for each diseases and medical problems. A new OPD section is under construction and will be completed soon.

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka is a government hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1864 as the General Hospital, it is the leading hospital in Sri Lanka and is controlled by the central government. The hospital has 18 intensive care units and 21 operating theaters and 3,404 beds

Very Disappointed with the Service and Attitude at Colombo General Hospital I am deeply disappointed by the way some staff members at Colombo General Hospital perform their duties. Many of them do not treat patients with fairness or kindness. When someone tries to speak up or ask for fair treatment, they often face revengeful and unprofessional behavior. It feels like there is a separate “system” running inside the hospital that ignores the values of the government and the rights of the people who pay taxes and depend on this hospital for care. Patients deserve respect, compassion, and proper medical attention — not fear or mistreatment. This situation needs serious attention and immediate improvement from higher authorities. The hospital staff may have knowledge and experience, which is somewhat acceptable. However, many lack basic humanity and compassion towards patients. They often act rudely and can be vengeful towards those who point out mistakes or seek correct treatment. Even though some doctors are educated and professional, they sometimes lack kindness and empathy. This is particularly concerning because patients are citizens who contribute to the government through taxes and deserve proper care and respect. Not all staff behave this way, which needs to be addressed. The hospital must correct these issues and ensure that all staff follow the right path of professional and compassionate care.

Very disappointing urology unit. Dr. Manjula Wijewardena is making many patients uncomfortable and people are running around. Very sad.

I want to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses, and cleaning staff at Ward No. 46 – National Hospital, Colombo for the exceptional care given to my grandmother, who was admitted there for around 21 days. This was the first time I’ve witnessed such dedication from a government hospital staff. The doctors and nurses were absolutely incredible hardworking, compassionate, and truly committed to each and every patient. I never saw them take a break or sit down for even a moment. They worked around the clock, always attentive and professional. The ward was also kept impressively clean, and the cleaning staff deserves recognition for maintaining hygienic washrooms and a pleasant environment. Apart from one downside the ward sister, who was unfortunately quite rude at times every other staff member was outstanding. However, one major issue I noticed daily was the behavior of the medical students who came in for their morning ward rounds. Many of them were extremely unprofessional. After briefly observing patients, they would stand near the beds including my grandmother’s and gossip loudly about irrelevant topics like appearances, haircuts, and other unnecessary chatter. It was disturbing, especially in a space where patients are resting or in pain. It’s understandable to have case discussions during training, but daily gossip and loud conversations right next to patients is unacceptable and showed a lack of respect and awareness. Despite this, my overall experience with the hospital staff in Ward 46 was overwhelmingly positive. I am deeply grateful to the medical team who cared for my grandmother so well, and I hope the behavior of the students can be guided and improved with proper supervision going forward.

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo is Sri Lanka's largest and busiest hospital. Healthcare is free of charge for all Sri Lankan citizens.