The 12th-century Polonnaruwa Old Hospital, built under King Parakramabahu I, featured advanced surgical tools and a medicinal bath for patient care.
Ancient Hospital Complex (Polonnaruwa)
The ruins of an Ancient Hospital Complex (Sinhala: පොළොන්නරුව පුරාණ රෝහල) are identified on the premises of Polonnaruwa Old City in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. History Cultural Triangle excavations carried out in 1982/3 confirmed that these ruins situated in the Alahana Pirivena premises are the remains of an ancient hospital complex of the 12th century (Kannangara, 2016; Mueller-Dietz, 1996; Prematileke, 1990). The construction of this hospital is generally attributed to King Parakramabahu I [(1153-1186 A.D.) Kannangara, 2016]. Excavations carried out at this site have unearthed some surgical and medical instruments such as probes, forceps, scissors, scalpels, lancets, herb grinding stones, a micro-balance, a spoon, and storage jars of Chinese celedon used at the time (Jayasuriya, 2016; Wikramagamage, 2004). Some of these artefacts are presently on the display in Colombo National Museum . The Hospital Building The rectangular hospital building (25.75 m x 16.65 m) more or less foll…
