Two Gazette notifications are set to be issued on Friday, July 18, to facilitate the recruitment and training of new nursing personnel and to fill critical vacancies in Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector, according to Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held today (July 15), Minister Jayatissa announced that the government will recruit a total of 3,500 individuals under a dual program designed to bolster the country’s nursing workforce.
“We are currently facing a severe shortage of nursing staff. In the Northern Province alone, 33 rural hospitals operate without a single nurse,” the Minister revealed.
To address this, the first Gazette notification will invite applications from 2,650 students who sat for the G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations in 2020, 2021, and 2022. These candidates will be selected for nursing training programs across the country.
In parallel, a second Gazette will enable the recruitment of 850 nursing degree holders into the public healthcare system.
“A separate Gazette will be issued on the same day to absorb 850 qualified nursing graduates directly into government service,” Minister Jayatissa added.
The Ministry of Health is expected to initiate the recruitment process shortly after the notifications are published, aiming to strengthen rural healthcare delivery and bridge critical staffing gaps in the health sector.
