Sri Lanka's Health Ministry said that around 40 state hospitals located across the island have been closed down.

It added that another 100 state hospitals are likely to close down soon.

The country's Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has instructed the officials to appoint a committee chaired by the Director General of Health Services for the purpose of assigning personnel to the relevant hospitals, and to restore treatment services to the patients.

The Health Minister had also added that the Government Medical Officers' Association will also be an opportunity to be a part of the committee.

The Health Ministry said that reports of hospitals closing down due to the absence of doctors are being reported from the Northern province, as well as from the Puttlam, and Nuwara Eliya District.

It added that doctors retiring, migrating, getting transferred, and leaving the health service are reasons for this situation.