More than 80 patients seek the treatment on an average day.

But, for the past fortnight, radiation therapy has not taken place there, with hospital director Dr. Shelton Perera saying that cobalt needed for the treatment has been used up.

He said around two weeks would be needed to bring back the service to normalcy.

Nurses union president Gamini Kumarasighe said patients now had to go to Colombo National Hospital for the treatment.