The Heart of Jaffna’s Medical Heritage: The Enduring Legacy of GMH
Nestled in the quiet town of Manipay, in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Peninsula, the Manipay Green Memorial Hospital (GMH) stands as a testament to enduring humanitarian service and medical excellence. Founded in 1847 by Dr. Samuel Fisk Green, a visionary American missionary doctor, the hospital was the first institution in Sri Lanka to offer structured medical training. More than just a healthcare centre, GMH was the birthplace of Sri Lanka’s first medical school, and one of the earliest in South Asia.
Dr. Green, deeply committed to service, arrived in Jaffna in the mid-19th century with the goal of spreading both spiritual and physical healing. His approach was revolutionary: he taught Western medicine in the Tamil language, opening doors for locals to become trained physicians. Between 1850 and 1875, around 80 doctors were trained at GMH, many of whom went on to serve in the colonial British health system. Dr. Green’s passion for education also led him to translate numerous English and European medical texts into Tamil and Malayalam, thereby localizing medical knowledge for generations to come.
By the early 20th century, the hospital had grown into a full-fledged medical complex, complete with departments for surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics. It was also home to the Willis F. Pierce School of Nursing, founded by North American doctors’ spouses like Dr. Mrs Scott, one of the region’s earliest female physicians. This institution trained a steady stream of nurses who would support healthcare delivery across the island.
However, the decades-long civil conflict that erupted in the late 20th century devastated the hospital. What was once a thriving centre of education and healing was reduced to a small dispensary? The “Century Block,” added in 1948 to mark 100 years of service, now stood as a fading reminder of former glory.
Despite the setbacks, the spirit of GMH endured. Efforts to revive the hospital gained traction in the early 2000s. The establishment of the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) in 2012 marked a new chapter, offering training programs for healthcare assistants and aspiring nurses, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. These programs provided not just education, but also food, lodging, and pathways to employment in Sri Lanka’s growing private health sector.
Historically, GMH’s land was crown property granted by the Dutch and later British colonial authorities to the American Ceylon Mission. Even in those early years, the hospital collaborated closely with institutions like Jaffna Friends-in-Need Hospital (now Jaffna Teaching Hospital), setting a tone of compassionate, and community-based healthcare.
Today, the hospital’s restoration continues—both structurally and spiritually. It remains a symbol of what can be achieved when knowledge, compassion, and service come together across borders. With continued support from communities near and far, Manipay Green Memorial Hospital is poised not just to reclaim its past—but to shape the future of healthcare in Sri Lanka.
Dr Samuel Fisk Green arrived in Manipay 1848 and was a graduate of New York Medical School (currently known as Colombia University, New York.)