COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The Sri Lankan government has announced a major financial commitment to rejuvenate its healthcare sector, allocating 45 billion rupees (approximately $150 million USD) to complete stalled hospital construction and development projects across the country.
Speaking at an event in the Eastern Province on Monday, Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, confirmed that these crucial infrastructure projects are slated for completion within the next two years.
Major Recruitment Drive to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce
In addition to the infrastructure funding, Minister Jayatissa revealed significant plans to address staffing shortages. The government will undertake a large-scale recruitment drive, with 1,900 new health support staff set to be hired within the next two months.
Furthermore, the nursing workforce will be bolstered with the recruitment of nearly 1,000 new nurses over the next eight months.
Future Commitments and Support for Field Staff
Looking ahead, the Health Minister outlined further support for the sector. A program to provide motorcycles for health workers engaged in field duties is scheduled to commence in April 2026, aiming to improve mobility and outreach services.
Dr. Jayatissa also signaled a strong long-term investment in health, stating that the government plans to allocate over 550 billion rupees ($1.83 billion USD) to the health ministry in the 2026 budget.
