Colombo North hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) (CNHPB) and liver transplant (LT) unit was formally established on 16th February 2012. The unit is attached to Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama and the Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Ragama. Members from different Departments in both institutions work as members of NCHPB and LT unit.

CNTH, Ragama is a hospital with over 1000-bed capacity, which is rapidly developing. University Medical Unit of CNTH, Ragama is under the leadership of Prof H J de Silva, and it is the countries' pioneering and leading training center for Medical Gastroenterologists. It is renowned for the management of patients with complex and advanced liver diseases. Patients from all parts of the country are referred to the unit. It has the countries largest database of patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Academically the department has contributed widely to research in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

University Surgical Unit of CNTH has become the leading center for hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation,  leading the way in the country. Currently the team has performed over 500 complex liver resections, over 300 Whipple's procedures and 55 liver transplants including the first ever living donor liver transplant and first successful transplant for acute liver failure in an adult.

Division of Anesthesiology and critical care attached to the Department of Surgery has pioneered in commencing the postgraduate training in anesthesiology with a special interest in liver transplantation. 

Paediatric Hepatology and Liver transplantation division along with the University Paediatric Unit is a recent addition to CNCLD which has contributed to achieving the recent milestones of the first successful Peadiatric liver transplantation in Sri Lanka and first Peadiatric liver transplantation for acute liver failure.

Department of Pathology under the leadership of Prof Janaki Hewavisanthi plays a key role for a long time being the leading center for histopathological diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases in the country. Departments of radiology, microbiology, haematology, transfusion medicine and chemical pathology in CNTH, Ragama also play key supporting roles.

On 16th February 2012, the unit opened its outpatient premises at Faculty of Medicine, Ragama. At present, it is used to run the HPB and liver transplant clinics for adults as well as for children including multi-disciplinary meetings. Unit maintains the largest database in the country for pre and post transplant patients and patients with liver cancer (hepatoma).

In 2020 CNHPB and LT unit was named as Colombo North Center for Liver Disease (CNCLD) in view of formalizing and expanding its existing services including dedicated operating theatres and ICU facility. The  Government of Sri Lanka and the University of Kelaniya approved the establishment of the dedicated center of excellence in liver disease attached to the University units.

We hope to expand our services and to become one of the best centres for treatment of HBP and liver disease in the South Asian region.