Kings Hospital Colombo has introduced Sri Lanka’s first AI-powered hospital chatbot, marking a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare sector and advancing the hospital’s digital transformation efforts.
The new chatbot is designed to provide patients and visitors with instant, user-friendly assistance around the clock, offering a convenient way to access information about hospital services without the need to wait on telephone lines or visit help desks.
Users can type their questions in natural language and receive information on a range of hospital-related services, including specialist consultations, doctor availability, channeling procedures, health checkups and general hospital information.
A key feature of the chatbot is its 24/7 availability, allowing patients to obtain information at any time, including outside regular hospital operating hours. Its conversational interface is intended to make the service accessible to users with varying levels of familiarity with digital technology.
The chatbot also simplifies the process of checking doctor availability and obtaining guidance on appointments and channeling. By streamlining routine inquiries, the initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency and reduce pressure on conventional telephone and help-desk services.
The launch forms part of Kings Hospital Colombo’s wider commitment to adopting digital technologies to enhance the patient experience. Through the use of artificial intelligence, the hospital aims to create a more responsive and connected healthcare service while improving access to routine information.
Hospital representatives noted that the chatbot is intended to complement, rather than replace, human interaction. Trained staff will continue to handle complex medical inquiries and emergencies, while the AI-powered system will assist with routine information requests.
The introduction of the chatbot represents another step in Kings Hospital Colombo’s digital healthcare journey and highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in improving patient engagement and service delivery in Sri Lanka.
Omega Traders Celebrates 45 Years of Excellence with New Lentil and Orid Dhal Processing Facility
Celebrating 45 years in Sri Lanka’s food commodity industry, Omega Traders is embarking on a new chapter with the opening of its modern Lentil and Orid Dhal Processing Factory at 258 Canal Road, Wattala.
The new facility will be officially inaugurated on 18 September 2026, bringing together representatives from government institutions, the banking sector, agriculture, customers, business partners and other key stakeholders.
The Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E. Matthew Duckworth, will attend the inauguration as Chief Guest, while Dr. (Mrs.) Siddhika G. Senaratne, Director General/CEO of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), will be the Guest of Honour.
Founded in 1981 as a modest trading enterprise, Omega Traders has evolved into an established importer, processor and distributor of essential food commodities. Over the years, the company has built its reputation around quality, consistency, reliability and enduring relationships with suppliers and customers.
For more than two decades, Omega Traders has supplied Mysoor Dhal to consumers across Sri Lanka through a broad network of wholesalers, retailers, distributors and other customers. The new processing facility marks a significant expansion of this operation, strengthening the company’s ability to enhance both production capacity and product quality.
The new red lentil processing facility has an estimated capacity of approximately 150 metric tonnes per eight-hour production day. This expanded capacity is expected to strengthen the company’s ability to meet existing market demand while supporting future growth.
Beyond increased production, the investment places strong emphasis on quality. The facility is equipped with advanced cleaning, processing, sorting and quality-control machinery, giving Omega Traders greater control throughout the production process.
New-generation colour-sorting technology enables the identification and removal of undesirable grains and foreign material, while quality checks are carried out at multiple stages, from the arrival of raw materials through processing and up to the finished product.
An in-house quality-control laboratory further enhances the company’s ability to monitor key product parameters and maintain consistency across production batches.
The upgraded capabilities will support Omega Traders’ three principal Mysoor Dhal brands — Rainbow Jumbo Dhal, Komas Dhal and Rozanna Dhal — which serve different segments of the Sri Lankan market. While each brand has its own market positioning, the company aims to maintain consistent quality as a common foundation across its portfolio.
The new investment also includes an Orid Dhal processing operation, creating an opportunity to strengthen the connection between Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector and modern food processing.
Omega Traders plans to source locally cultivated black matpe from Sri Lankan farmers and process it into Orid Dhal at the new facility. The initiative is intended to create additional demand for locally grown produce, support farmers, encourage domestic agricultural production and increase value addition within Sri Lanka.
The project therefore extends beyond an expansion of processing capacity, reflecting Omega Traders’ broader vision of connecting local farmers, domestic processing and consumers through a stronger value chain.
As the company marks its 45th anniversary, the new facility represents Omega Traders’ commitment to continued growth while preserving the values that have guided its journey. By combining increased capacity, modern technology, stringent quality control and local value addition, the company is reaffirming its focus on continuously raising standards across its operations.
Kings Hospital Colombo Introduces Sri Lanka’s First AI-Powered Hospital Chatbot
