Healthcare in Sri Lanka

It scores higher than the regional average in healthcare having a high Life expectancy and a lower maternal and infant death rate than its neighbors.

Besides a number of medical discoveries that are only now being acknowledged by western medicine, according to the Mahawansa, the ancient chronicle of Sinhalese royalty King Pandukabhaya had lying-in-homes and hospitals (Sivikasotthi-Sala) built in various parts of the country after having fortified his capital at Anuradhapura in the 4th century BCE.

"[5] Excavations of the ruins of Ancient hospitals have uncovered several surgical instruments like Forceps, Scalpels and Scissors as well as spoons that are believed to be used to mix or administer medicine.

The hospitals had been designed for ventilation and free circulation of air due to two open courts in addition to the windows which indicates that psychological aspects of therapeutics were understood by Medical practitioners.

[6] Sri Lanka has a universal health care system that extends free[clarification needed] healthcare to all citizens, which has been a national priority.

The public healthcare system also has long waiting lists for specialized care and advanced procedures.