Engineering Association of 92/93 of University of Moratuwa donates a building to IDH, Angoda

By Publicity Division (IESL)

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, responding at a time of crisis, the Engineering Association of Group 92/93 of University of Moratuwa (UoM) quickly identified the need of the hour and raised funds to construct a new two storey building complex for the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Centre, Angoda (IDH). The building worth more than 30 Mn LKR was built to facilitate a CT Scanning machine which is crucial in the treatment in COVID-19 patients. The new facility was declared open by Honourable Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, on the 4th June 2020 at IDH. After due regulatory approvals from the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, the CT scanner is currently in operation and is a significant aid in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Even though a CT Scanning machine was allocated to IDH by the Ministry of Health, there was no building to facilitate the operations which required multiple spaces for housing the CT scanning machine, receiving patients, staff areas, rest areas and also special construction to handle the radiation risk of the operations of the CT scanner itself. A CT Scan machine is used in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 to determine the extent of lung involvement and early detection of complications. This is a critical factor in the clinical management of COVID-19 patients and enables the doctors to make decisions of great consequence in an effective manner.

Accepting the request & proposal submitted by IDH Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, the 92/93 Engineering batch of UOM readily agreed to fulfil the requirement to construct the fully-furnished two storied building worth more than LKR 30.0 Million with a total floor area of 3400 sqft. The Sri Lanka Navy also came forward in joining hands with 92/93 Engineering batch of UOM to support the endeavour with Architectural and Structural Design details. The project which was initiated on the 10th of April was completed and handed over to IDH on the 4th of June paving the way for the health care staff at IDH to provide better treatment to the COVID-19 patients.

The building consists of two floors. The CT Scan room and associated service areas are located in the ground floor. A lecture hall, Store room and the offices of the staff are located in the upper floor.

The building is a RC framed structure with infilled brick walls. There is a 340 mm thick brick wall to separate the CT Scan Room area to protect surrounding spaces form radiation when in operation. RC Columns are supported on Individual footings and brick walls are on R/R masonry foundations. The structure has been tied at ground floor level by RC beams. The Zn/Al roof claddings with a layer of insulation is rested on GI Lipped Channel Purlins. A parallel chord roof trusses made out of GI angle sections, support the purlins. The building is finished with Aluminium framed glazed doors and windows, floor with homogeneous porcelain tiles and the required building services.

Amidst the difficulties and hardships during the pandemic, the SL Navy team provided an unwavering support to the project by working around the clock to complete the project in a mere 50 days.

Members of the Engineering Association 92/93 spread across the world worked relentlessly with their love for the motherland to spread the word of this noble project. The determined spirit of the UOM 92/93 batch with renewed old friendships spanning continents, paved the way for the total funds to be raised in a mere 40 days. The funds comprising of cash and material were raised from UOM Alumni and well-wishers all over the world.

A few drawings are given below to show the details;

Source of Information to CESC -
Eng. Kushmi Senaratne, 92/93 batch of UOM. 13 July 2020.