For families struggling with serious kidney disease, this is more than a medical milestone. It is a sign that advanced treatment is becoming more accessible closer to home.
The Polonnaruwa China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital has successfully completed its first pediatric kidney transplant, opening a new chapter in specialist kidney care.
According to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, the surgery was performed on May 7 for a 15-year-old patient. The kidney was donated by the child’s father.
What makes this operation significant is not only the successful outcome. It is where it happened.
Hospital officials say this is the first pediatric kidney transplant performed at a peripheral hospital outside a dedicated children’s hospital. In practical terms, it shows that highly specialised kidney treatment is expanding beyond a few major centres.
For parents of children with kidney disease, that matters.
Many families face long waiting periods, travel challenges, and high medical costs when seeking specialised treatment. Some even explore treatment overseas. Countries such as India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States regularly perform pediatric kidney transplants. However, overseas treatment remains financially out of reach for many families.
Hospital Director Specialist Dilka Saranasinghe said both the child and the donor recovered well after the procedure.
The hospital has also announced that it is now ready to perform pediatric kidney transplants for children from across the country, based on medical requirements.
For kidney patients and their families, this development offers something many have been waiting for — access to advanced treatment without leaving the country.
More importantly, it demonstrates how specialist healthcare services continue to expand, bringing life-changing procedures closer to the communities that need them most.
Last modified: May 23, 2026
