Sri Lanka to recruit 13,000 nurses over next three years

Daily Mirror, Lankadeepa and Newswire report that 2,819 trainee nurses were appointed as Grade III officers in Sri Lanka’s health service. Newswire says the appointment event took place at Temple Trees on Sunday, the first day of the month, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presiding; Lankadeepa also reports that the president presented the appointment letters.

Lankadeepa and Newswire identify the appointees as members of the nursing-student intake from 2020 who completed a three-year advanced diploma course. Newswire says the course was delivered at 16 nursing colleges under the Health and Mass Media Ministry. It reports that they entered the colleges in 2023 after sitting Advanced Level exams in science and mathematics in 2019 and 2020. Their postings are expected to include hospitals and other health facilities managed by both central government and provincial councils, according to Newswire.

Daily Mirror and Newswire report that 76 Grade I officers in the hospital nursing service received letters advancing them to Special Grade. Newswire says Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa linked recruitment efforts to filling staffing gaps and improving healthcare services. Deputy Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni, ministry secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe and senior officials also attended, Newswire reports.

Newswire reports that the government plans to recruit 13,000 nursing personnel between 2027 and 2029, based on staffing projections in the national health policy and strategic plan for 2025–2035. It says the minister noted that the plan depends on approval from the Department of Management Services at the Finance Ministry. Ada Derana also reports a three-year recruitment plan, while Ada Derana (සිංහල) describes the period as the next two years.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.