2025 Cost Guide: Private Hospital Procedures, Imaging, and Stays in Sri Lanka

At some institutions, transparent pricing for uncomplicated surgeries is available:

These figures are a useful baseline—real prices at private institutions can be higher when room, consultant, and support charges are added.

Based on recent user-shared experiences:

A Hospital in Kandy branch: A private AC room may cost LKR 50,000–60,000 per day, excluding doctor and nursing fees.
Another account noted a two-night stay for a surgical case resulted in a bill just under LKR 300,000, suggesting substantial medical and room charges.
Some private hospitals charge LKR 40,000 per day for a room, and LKR 20,000 per day for ward beds—again, without professional or investigation fees.

From community insights on recent childbirth costs:

Colombo:
- Normal delivery: LKR 280,000–300,000
- C‑section: LKR 380,000–400,000; in some cases as high as LKR 350K–450K, depending on interventions and room choices - Reddit.
Kandy:
- Normal birth: around LKR 180,000
- C‑section: around LKR 350,000 - Reddit.

Community estimates give a clearer picture for high-cost surgeries:

Bypass surgeries reported between LKR 1.2 million to 1.5 million at some hospitals - Reddit.
One story mentioned the cost reaching LKR 2 million in private settings—it may range up to LKR 3–3.4 million, depending on age and hospitalization details - Reddit.

Private hospitals commonly layer in additional, sometimes opaque charges:

Dental nerve fillings may cost LKR 40,000–45,000, compared to LKR 25,000 in state teaching hospitals—while professional fees are similar, private settings bill for every follow-up and services like air-conditioning, chairs, and consultations.
One case reported a hospital charging LKR 33,000 for a medication whose import cost is only LKR 6,000.
Quoting and billing inconsistencies are common—one patient's ECG ranged from LKR 700 to LKR 900 depending on hospital; a C-section could be LKR 150,000 at one facility but exceed LKR 200,000 at another.

While not strictly service pricing, it's notable:

Healthcare costs can be unpredictable and steep, prompting some expats to explore alternative coverage or even offshore insurance.

Quick Comparison Table: 2025 Private Healthcare Price Ranges

Service Type	Example Cost Range (LKR)
Minor surgery (e.g., cyst removal)	≈ 14,000
Standard surgical procedure	75,000 – 100,000
C-section (private hospital)	180,000 – 450,000
Normal delivery	50,000 – 300,000
Major surgery (e.g., CABG, bypass)	1,200,000 – 3,400,000+
ICU/room charges (per day)	40,000 – 60,000+, higher with addons
Imaging (MRI, CT scans)	8,000 – 13,000
Routine labs (e.g., FBC, lipid profile)	350 – 1,500

Expect wide price variation—hospital selection, location, room type, doctor's reputation, and hidden fees significantly influence cost.
Always ask for an itemized quote and clarify what's included (room, doctor, tests, consumables) to avoid surprises.
For childbirth or surgeries, consider comparing hospitals and discussing bundled packages—costs can differ dramatically.
High-cost procedures like bypass surgeries may reach multiple millions of rupees; consider insurance or planning financial buffers.

Thanks for reading 2025 Cost Guide: Private Hospital Procedures, Imaging, and Stays in Sri Lanka