- The structural problems of the heart prevail at the birth are known as “Congenital Heart Defects” and it is estimated by now that approximately 2,500 to 3,000 children are born with congenital heart defects in Sri Lanka annually, and out of which around 2,000 children have to undergo corrective surgeries. Currently about 900 children undergo similar surgeries at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children every year and only a small number of surgeries are performed at Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya and Sri Jayawardenapura General Hospital. At present, there are thousands of children waiting in the lists till their opportunity comes for the surgery, but most of them succumb to their illness or develop irreversible complications while waiting for surgery. As such, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne, the Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, to implement a programme for “after working hours cardiac surgery” at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children as the best possible measure can be taken to perform above surgeries without further delay with the financial sponsorship of the “Gift of Life International”, an organization relates to Rotary Club, was approved by the Cabinet.