Five-Year Plan to Recruit 13,600 Nurses: 50% of Target to Be Achieved This Year – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa
Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, has announced that the government is taking steps to recruit 13,600 new nurses into the national nursing service during its first five-year term from 2025 to 2029.
According to the Minister, with the appointments granted so far, 30% of the target has already been achieved, and the recruitment of 2,867 additional nurses in October 2026 will raise the achievement level to 50% of the overall target.
He made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held to appoint 515 Bachelor of Science (BSc) Nursing graduates as Nursing Officers, with the aim of strengthening the quality and efficiency of Sri Lanka’s free public healthcare system.
The appointment ceremony took place on 29 May 2026 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo 07.
The newly appointed officers have successfully completed their nursing degree programs at state universities and have also completed a six-month nursing orientation and integration training program at 31 government hospitals across the country, in accordance with the Sri Lanka Nursing Service Constitution.
The Ministry has deployed these officers to fill vacancies and meet service requirements in national hospitals, teaching hospitals, and district general hospitals under the central government.
Recruitment Progress
Speaking further, the Minister stated:
- 3,441 nurses who completed training at nursing colleges last year were appointed to service.
- This was the largest single intake of nurses in recent years.
- Including the 515 officers appointed this year, a total of 3,956 nurses have joined the service during the past year.
- An additional 2,867 nurses are scheduled to be recruited in October 2026.
- As a result, 6,823 new nurses will be recruited during 2025 and 2026.
The Minister further noted that:
- Another 1,949 nurses are expected to be appointed in 2028.
- A further 2,920 nurses are expected to be recruited by mid-2029.
He emphasized that graduates from nursing colleges and universities will continue to be absorbed systematically to meet national healthcare staffing requirements.
Nursing Service and Professional Standards
Addressing the gathering, Anil Jasinghe stated that the nursing profession in Sri Lanka has long been regarded as a highly respected service characterized by professionalism and strict discipline.
It was also highlighted that BSc Nursing graduates were last recruited to Grade III nursing positions in 2021, making these appointments the first such intake after a gap of five years.
The event was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, the Director General of Health Services, hospital directors, principals of nursing colleges, trade union representatives, parents, and other invited guests.
