COLOMBO, May 18 (Xinhua) - A COVID-19 hospital improvised by the Sri Lanka Army has been set up in Seeduwa, 20 kilometers away from the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka.

It is the first-ever biggest COVID-19 Hospital in the country and will be declared open by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The hospital, equipped with all vital health facilities including emergency treatment unit, isolation sections, resuscitation units, ICU and medical stores, was improvised by the Army in less than a week to be in line with the government's decision to increase the bed-capacity all over the country in the wake of resurgence of the 3rd COVID-19 wave in the country. It has the capacity to accommodate 1,200 patients at the initial stage after its opening.

As of Monday, Sri Lanka reported over 142,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 962 deaths. During the first half of May, the number of newly confirmed cases touched 30,000, and the number of deaths increased by nearly 300.

[caption id="attachment_57883" align="alignnone" width="720"] A staff member cleans a COVID-19 hospital improvised by the Sri Lanka Army in Seeduwa, 20 kilometers away from the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by Gayan Sammera/Xinhua)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_57884" align="alignnone" width="720"] A staff member does preparation work at a COVID-19 hospital improvised by the Sri Lanka Army in Seeduwa, 20 kilometers away from the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by Gayan Sammera/Xinhua)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_57885" align="alignnone" width="720"] Staff members do preparation work at a COVID-19 hospital improvised by the Sri Lanka Army in Seeduwa, 20 kilometers away from the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by Gayan Sammera/Xinhua)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_57886" align="alignnone" width="720"] Photo taken on May 17, 2021 shows a COVID-19 hospital improvised by the Sri Lanka Army in Seeduwa, 20 kilometers away from the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Gayan Sammera/Xinhua)[/caption]