Healthcare

## Summary Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa provided a comprehensive update on nurse recruitment and training, acknowledging that the current workforce of approximately 43,553 nurses is insufficient for service demands. He outlined that approximately 3,441 new nursing appointments had been granted between May and November 2024, with a further cohort of 517 graduate nurses expected to receive permanent appointments the following month, and an additional 2,900 completing training for induction by October. He detailed planned recruitment covering the 2020–2024 training cohorts, totalling around 2,915 trainees registering in March with training commencing in April, alongside further Gazette notifications in May to address backlogs across multiple cohorts. He also reported progress on specialist nursing roles, including 517 Nursing Sisters in training, 217 Public Health Nursing Officers in training, and 69 Matron vacancies notified to the Public Service Commission, projecting a net addition of approximately 6,800 nurses within a 15-month period.

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa addressed the ongoing effort to upgrade diploma nursing schools to degree-level institutions, confirming that the process began during discussions held between September and November 2024 under the Prime Minister's health portfolio and is now being managed jointly by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education through a committee. He outlined the complexity of the undertaking, which involves converting existing nursing schools rather than establishing new institutions, along with requirements for academic staffing, facility upgrades, and public service integration of graduates. While committing to proceeding as quickly as possible, he declined to provide a firm timeline for completion.

Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake raised a supplementary question regarding the long-delayed upgrade of Sri Lanka's nursing education from diploma to degree level, noting that the World Bank had recommended this change as far back as 1963. He referenced a prior discussion held with the Minister of Education on 16 March 2025, including an advisory committee meeting, and noted that approximately a year had elapsed without resolution. He asked the Minister to identify the current obstacles preventing the implementation of this upgrade.

Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake submitted Written Question No. 1328/2025 to the Minister of Health and Mass Media seeking comprehensive information about Sri Lanka's nursing service. The question requests details on the historical establishment of the nursing service, current workforce composition broken down by gender, core functions of the service, entry qualification requirements, and whether nurses have been supported in completing professional qualifications and pursuing higher education. The question follows a standard two-part parliamentary format, requiring the Minister to either provide the requested information or explain why it cannot be furnished.

## Summary Hon. M. S. Abthul Wazeeth raised several development and administrative concerns relating to the Pottuvil area of the Ampara District. He requested the establishment of a modern sports ground in Vattiveli, Kalappulattu, or Sarvodaya Puram, the completion and upgrading of existing grounds at Jalaludeen Square, Pasarichenai, and Komari, and the provision or rehabilitation of sports grounds for seven named schools, noting that over 40 sports clubs and 1,000 youth members currently lack adequate facilities. He also called for the urgent appointment of a permanent sports officer to the Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat, the establishment of a Youth Vocational Training Centre, and the equipping of the Sainthamaruthu Youth Training Centre with laptops, a photocopier, and a projector. On agricultural matters, he urged the government to purchase wet paddy at the guaranteed price, as recent rains have prevented farmers from drying paddy, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by private traders offering very low prices. He raised a concern regarding the Eastern Provincial Public Service Commission's 2023/2024 Graduate Teachers examination, where 30 candidates passed and were interviewed in May 2024 but have not received appointments due to a claimed absence of vacancies, tabling related documents. He further called for the resumption of stalled construction works at the Pottuvil Regional Secretariat bus depot, for which approximately Rs. 60 million was allocated and contracted to SDCC in November 2023.

## Summary Hon. Jegatheeswaran spoke in support of the second readings of the Judicial Organization (Amendment) Bill and the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, arguing that both pieces of legislation are necessary updates for a developing democracy. On judicial reform, he welcomed provisions to increase the number of higher courts and judges to reduce case backlogs, noting that expedited civil proceedings would also improve investor confidence. On drug control, he cited alarming statistics from the Northern Province — including a reported 25% annual increase in drug-related arrests since 2023, a 35% rise in cardiac events among young males attributed to methamphetamine, and drug users accounting for approximately 65% of thefts — to underscore the urgency of the amendments, which he noted would extend prosecutorial reach to mid-sea trafficking operations. He called for expanded rehabilitation capacity in the North and urged cross-party support for the President's "Whole Country Together" anti-drug programme.

Dr. Elayathamby Srinath concluded his speech by citing a statistic of over 200,000 drug-related arrests in 2024, using this figure to argue for the necessity of proper mental health counselling and structured rehabilitation programmes for those affected by drug offences.

Dr. Elayathamby Srinath expressed support for the proposed drug law amendment, citing 2024 National Dangerous Drugs Control Board statistics showing 228,450 arrests — the majority youth aged 20–29 — as evidence of a grave national crisis. He called for parallel action against illegal liquor, arguing that existing penalties are inadequate and allow repeat offending, and demanded comprehensive rehabilitation facilities at the Divisional Secretariat level, noting the absence of adequate treatment centres in Batticaloa District. He further urged the Government to provide immediate compensation to Batticaloa farmers who have suffered losses from both cyclone-related flooding and human-elephant conflict, which he described as compounding hardships in an already distressed region.

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, responding on behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, provided official figures on the shortage of hospital attendants in government hospitals. Of the required attendant complement, 3,428 are currently serving against a shortfall of 2,838. To address this, 1,000 attendant posts have been partially filled through interviews with appointments in progress, and approval has been sought to recruit an additional 710 attendants through open competitive examination. The Ministry noted that no fixed patient-to-attendant ratio can be established due to variation across hospitals and treatment units, and that patients may independently engage private attendants at their own expense.

Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa clarified that under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015, all medicinal products must be registered with the NMRA before use or sale in Sri Lanka. He confirmed that complaints submitted to the NMRA or the CID are actively investigated, specifically acknowledging an ongoing inquiry related to a complaint filed by Hon. Mujibur Rahuman involving multiple agencies. The Minister emphasized that the use, prescription, or sale of unregistered medicines constitutes a legal offence and that authorities act accordingly.