2026-03-03 / Oral Question: Nursing Service History and Recruitment (Q.1328/2025) 2026-03-03
## Summary
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa provided a detailed ministerial response on the nursing service in Sri Lanka, covering its history, current workforce, and professional framework. He stated that formal nursing education began in 1939 at the Colombo School of Nursing, and that as of 30 September 2025, a total of 43,553 nurses are serving across central government and provincial public services. He outlined the functions of the nursing service spanning hospital, community, mental health, and specialized care, and detailed entry qualifications including A/L stream requirements, a 95:5 female-to-male intake ratio, and conditions such as age, height, and marital status. He also confirmed the availability of post-basic diploma and certificate programmes as well as degree-level education pathways, including BSc and MSc nursing through the Open University and private universities, with provision for study leave and lateral university entry.
Mr. Speaker, the answers are as follows.
(a)
(i) The nursing service in Sri Lanka commenced in 1939 with planned nurse education at the Colombo School of Nursing, which is regarded as the formal start of the service.
(ii) As at 30.09.2025:
- Central Government service: 29,749
- Provincial Public Service: 13,804
Total nurses serving: 43,553.
(iii) The nursing service performs designated clinical and supportive functions across:
- Hospital and clinic care;
- Community and mental health nursing;
- Nursing education;
- Specialized/research nursing;
to promote disease prevention, health development, pain relief and rehabilitation, based on scientific principles and human needs.
(iv) Entry qualifications (summary):
- Selection based on GCE A/L results from Biology or Physical Science streams, with district-wise proportional intake, and a 5% male and 95% female ratio among selected candidates by highest Z-score.
- Supporting GCE O/L subject requirements (Sinhala/Tamil language, Mathematics, Science, English).
- Other criteria include: Sri Lankan citizenship; age 18–28 on closing date; minimum height 147.3 cm; unmarried.
(Detailed criteria and procedures have been tabled.)
(v) Yes. The Post-Basic School of Nursing conducts diplomas and certificate courses, including:
- Diploma in Teaching and Supervision;
- Diploma in Health Supervision;
- Theatre nursing training;
- Critical care nursing training;
- Community Health Nursing training;
- Community Mental Health Nursing training;
- Diploma in Mental Health;
- Dialysis training;
- Palliative care.
(vi) Yes. Facilities include:
- BSc and MSc in Nursing via the Open University and private universities;
- Up to 20 days’ annual study leave;
- Lateral entry opportunities to national universities.
(b) Does not arise.