Durdans Hospital

Durdans Hospital is a multispecialty private healthcare institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It operates from the commercial capital and serves domestic patients as well as international visitors, with services spanning hospital care, diagnostics, maternity care, paediatrics, surgery, intensive care, cardiology, cardiac surgery, radiology, pathology, laboratory testing, endoscopy, and telemedicine. The Durdans name is also associated with a broader healthcare network that includes laboratory facilities, collection centres, medical centres, a heart centre, and an international liaison presence in the Maldives. The site has a longer history than the modern private hospital business. The property was originally the home of Charles Peiris, brother of Sir James Peiris, and was used during the Second World War as a military hospital for British personnel in British Ceylon. In 1945, a group of doctors acquired the hospital with the intention of developing a private enterprise. That transaction led to the formation of Ceylon Hospitals Limited, the predecessor of Ceylon Hospitals PLC, which owns and operates the Durdans business. Durdans developed progressively from a maternity-focused institution into a broad multispecialty hospital. Maternity and outpatient facilities were introduced in 1968. Paediatric and surgical services followed in 1982, and a public radiology unit was established in 1984. The hospital added intensive care in 1993, endoscopy in 1995, and a pathology laboratory and blood bank in 1996. Its Durdans Heart Centre, established in 1997 according to the development timeline, became a principal platform for cardiology, cardiac surgery, and cardiac investigative procedures. The centre was affiliated with Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, formerly known as Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre. The organisation expanded its physical and technical infrastructure through additions to the Alfred Place wing, the construction of the Sixth Lane Wing, and later modernisation projects. The Sixth Lane Wing became fully operational in 2011. In 2014, Durdans became the first hospital in Sri Lanka to receive accreditation from Joint Commission International and its Gold Seal of Approval. The same year, it opened a liaison office in the Maldives, supporting access for overseas patients and contributing to its medical-tourism activities. Durdans has also expanded beyond its main hospital campus. Its laboratory network has been described as extending across approximately 100 locations in Sri Lanka, including mini-laboratories, sample-collection centres, and medical centres. In 2017, the organisation updated its radiology equipment, obtained renewed ISO 15189:2012 accreditation for laboratory operations, relaunched the Durdans brand under the slogan “Dedicated to you,” and entered the medical-education and healthcare-training field through Amrak Institute of Medical Sciences. Amrak is described in the reference material as a fully owned subsidiary. More recent developments include the introduction of audio and video consultations in 2020, the commissioning in 2019 of a biplane catheterisation laboratory described as enabling head-to-toe procedures, and a modernisation programme referred to as Vision 2022. In 2023, Durdans marked its institutional history with the publication of the coffee-table book Journey of Care. A specialised geriatric-care unit was added in 2025. Overall, Durdans is positioned as an integrated private healthcare provider combining hospital treatment, advanced diagnostics, specialist centres, laboratory access, international-patient coordination, and digital consultation services.

Durdans Hospital occupies a site with origins in the colonial-era history of Colombo. Before becoming a private hospital, the property was the stately residence of Charles Peiris, the brother of Sir James Peiris. During the Second World War, it was converted into a military hospital serving British personnel in British Ceylon. The institution's private healthcare identity dates from 1945, when a group of doctors acquired the hospital to establish a private enterprise. The resulting company was Ceylon Hospitals Limited, the predecessor of Ceylon Hospitals PLC. Durdans subsequently developed through a series of additions that broadened both its clinical scope and its physical facilities. In 1968, the hospital opened its first maternity-care facility and an outpatient unit focused on maternity services. Paediatric care and surgical procedures were introduced in 1982, moving the institution beyond its earlier focus. A radiology unit was opened to the public in 1984. Intensive-care capability was added in 1993, followed by an endoscopy unit in 1995 and a pathology laboratory and blood bank in 1996. Cardiovascular medicine became a major area of development. The Durdans Heart Centre was established during the late 1990s and is identified in the development timeline as having been created in 1997. It developed capabilities in cardiology, cardiac surgery, and cardiac investigative procedures, with an affiliation to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, formerly known as Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre. Further capacity was added in 1999 through an expansion of the Alfred Place wing. The corporate structure also changed during this period. Ceylon Hospitals Limited listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2003 and changed its name to Ceylon Hospitals PLC. A phased improvement programme for the Alfred Place wing began in 2004. Construction of the Sixth Lane Wing Hospital commenced in 2007, and the wing became fully operational in 2011. Quality accreditation and international access became important themes in the following decade. In 2014, Durdans received Joint Commission International accreditation and became the first hospital in Sri Lanka to receive that accreditation. It also opened a liaison office in the Maldives, reinforcing its ability to engage with overseas patients. The organisation has participated in Sri Lanka's wider medical-tourism development efforts, including initiatives concerned with specialist centres, post-operative and wellness packages, and international referral networks. During 2017, Durdans upgraded its radiology department with newer equipment, while its laboratory operations received ISO 15189:2012 reaccreditation. The brand was relaunched under the slogan “Dedicated to you,” and a new multistorey split-level car park was opened. The same period saw Durdans enter the medical-education and healthcare-training field through Amrak Institute of Medical Sciences, described as a wholly owned subsidiary. Its laboratory network expanded across Sri Lanka through mini-laboratories, sample-collection centres, and medical centres. In 2019, Durdans launched a biplane catheterisation laboratory described as enabling advanced head-to-toe procedures. In 2020, the hospital introduced audio and video consultations as part of a broader digitisation of medical services. A modernisation and expansion programme was referred to as Vision 2022. In 2023, the organisation published Journey of Care, a coffee-table book documenting its institutional story. In 2025, it added a specialised geriatric-care unit. Durdans therefore evolved from a wartime military hospital and post-war doctor-led private enterprise into a diversified private healthcare system centred on a Colombo multispecialty hospital.

1. 2025Specialised geriatric-care unit added

   The hospital expanded its clinical offering with specialised geriatric care.

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2. 2023Journey of Care published

   Durdans launched the coffee-table book Journey of Care, documenting its institutional journey.

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3. 2020Telemedicine consultations introduced

   Audio and video consultations were added as part of the digitisation of medical services.

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4. 2019Biplane catheterisation laboratory launched

   Durdans introduced an advanced biplane catheterisation laboratory.

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5. 2017Brand relaunch and laboratory development

   The brand was relaunched under “Dedicated to you,” radiology equipment was upgraded, and laboratory operations received ISO 15189:2012 reaccreditation.

   Source
6. 2014JCI accreditation and Maldives liaison office

   Durdans received Joint Commission International accreditation and opened a liaison office in the Maldives.

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7. 2011Sixth Lane Wing became operational

   The newly constructed Sixth Lane Wing Hospital became fully operational.

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8. 2003Ceylon Hospitals listed and renamed

   Ceylon Hospitals Limited was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and changed its name to Ceylon Hospitals PLC.

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9. 1999Alfred Place wing expanded

   Additional rooms were added to the Alfred Place wing.

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10. 1997Durdans Heart Centre established

    The hospital created its specialist heart centre for cardiology, cardiac surgery, and related investigations.

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11. 1996Pathology laboratory and blood bank opened

    The hospital added pathology and blood-bank infrastructure.

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12. 1995Endoscopy unit established

    Durdans introduced a dedicated endoscopy unit.

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13. 1993Intensive Care Unit established

    The hospital added intensive-care capability.

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14. 1984Radiology unit opened to the public

    Durdans made its radiology unit available to the public.

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15. 1982Paediatric and surgical services introduced

    The hospital began providing paediatric care and surgical procedures and subsequently expanded into additional specialties.

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16. 1968Maternity and outpatient facilities opened

    Durdans opened its first maternity-care facility and an outpatient unit focused on maternity services.

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17. 1945Private-enterprise transition

    A group of doctors acquired the hospital and established Ceylon Hospitals Limited, the predecessor of Ceylon Hospitals PLC.

    Source
18. 1939Hospital established on a former private residence

    The institution was established at the site that had previously been the residence of Charles Peiris and was later used as a military hospital.

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A major Sri Lankan private multispecialty hospital positioned around comprehensive clinical care, specialist medicine, advanced diagnostics, international accreditation, and access beyond its main Colombo campus.

• Multispecialty hospital careHospital services1939

  Durdans provides private inpatient and outpatient care across multiple medical and surgical specialties. Its development from maternity and outpatient services into paediatrics, surgery, intensive care, diagnostics, cardiology, and other specialist areas makes the hospital the central offering of the Durdans healthcare brand.

• Durdans Heart CentreCardiology and cardiac surgery1997

  The Durdans Heart Centre is a specialist cardiovascular facility focused on prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease. Its scope includes cardiology, cardiac surgery, and cardiac investigative procedures, and it has been described as affiliated with Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.

• Durdans LaboratoryLaboratory diagnostics1996

  Durdans Laboratory extends the brand beyond the Colombo hospital through a network of laboratories, sample-collection centres, and medical centres across Sri Lanka. The network supports pathology and diagnostic testing, with laboratory operations described as having received ISO 15189:2012 reaccreditation.

• Biplane catheterisation laboratoryInterventional cardiology2019

  Introduced in 2019, the biplane catheterisation laboratory added advanced imaging and interventional capability to Durdans' cardiovascular platform. Reference material describes it as enabling head-to-toe procedures and as one of the most advanced facilities of its type in Sri Lanka.

• Telemedicine consultationsDigital healthcare2020

  Durdans introduced audio and video consultations in 2020. The service allows elements of medical consultation to be delivered remotely and forms part of the hospital's broader digitisation of patient services.

• Geriatric careElder-care medicine2025

  A specialised geriatric-care unit was added in 2025, expanding the hospital's services for older patients and age-related healthcare needs.

• 2017Dedicated to you

  Sri Lanka

  Durdans relaunched its brand under the “Dedicated to you” slogan as part of a broader brand refresh that also coincided with infrastructure improvements, including a new multistorey split-level car park.

  Outcome. The relaunch refreshed the public-facing identity of the hospital; the available reference material does not provide campaign performance figures.

  Source

• 2020Medical services digitisedStrategy

  Durdans sought to extend access to care beyond face-to-face hospital visits.

  What changed. The hospital introduced audio and video consultations through telemedicine.

  Aftermath. Remote consultation became part of Durdans' service mix; the reference material does not quantify adoption or financial impact.

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• 2019Advanced catheterisation capability addedProduct launch

  Cardiology and cardiac procedures were already established areas of the Durdans offering through the Durdans Heart Centre.

  What changed. Durdans launched a biplane catheterisation laboratory.

  Aftermath. The hospital expanded its interventional cardiovascular capabilities and described the facility as enabling head-to-toe procedures.

  Source
• 2014International-patient access expanded through Maldives liaison officeStrategy

  Durdans served patients from outside Sri Lanka and participated in the country's developing medical-tourism initiatives.

  What changed. The hospital opened a liaison office in the Maldives.

  Aftermath. The office provided an overseas contact point for patient liaison and healthcare coordination; specific operating results are not available in the reference material.

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• 2003Listing and corporate renamingOther

  The hospital business was operated through Ceylon Hospitals Limited, the corporate predecessor associated with Durdans Hospital.

  What changed. Ceylon Hospitals Limited listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and changed its name to Ceylon Hospitals PLC.

  Aftermath. Ceylon Hospitals PLC became the listed corporate owner and operator associated with the Durdans hospital brand.

  Source

• 2025Durdans adds specialised geriatric care

  A specialised geriatric-care unit was added to the hospital's service portfolio.

  Product launch
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• 2020Durdans introduces audio and video consultations

  The hospital digitised elements of its medical-service delivery by adding audio and video consultations through telemedicine.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2019Durdans launches a biplane catheterisation laboratory

  Durdans introduced a biplane catheterisation laboratory described as one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Sri Lanka and capable of supporting head-to-toe procedures.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2014Durdans becomes Sri Lanka's first Joint Commission International-accredited hospital

  Durdans received Joint Commission International accreditation and its Gold Seal of Approval, marking a significant external quality and patient-safety milestone for the Sri Lankan private healthcare sector.

  Other
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• 2014Durdans opens a liaison office in the Maldives

  The hospital established a Maldives liaison office to support international-patient access and cross-border healthcare coordination.

  Other
  Source

1. Durdans Hospital
2. Durdans Hospital official website