The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, we currently have about 43,553 nurses, which is inadequate for service demand. Therefore, our nurses render a very large service with long duty hours. The solution is rapid recruitment, but we can only appoint after training completion.

¶ 02 In May last year, we gave 3,147 appointments; in November, 294 more — totaling 3,441 from nursing schools. Additionally, we called for 875 graduate recruits with PMO Committee approval; 517 graduates joined and began six months of training, which ends this month, enabling us to give them substantive appointments next month. Thus, an additional 517 will join alongside the 3,441.

¶ 03 A further batch of about 2,900 is completing training, with final exams in July and induction by early October. Therefore, within roughly the last 15 months and the coming months, we will add about 6,800 new nurses.

¶ 04 Next, for trainee intake, we will recruit the 2020, 2021, and 2022 A/L cohorts — totaling 2,915 students — with registrations on 19–20 March and training to begin in April. We will also recruit cohorts for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024; the Gazette will be issued in May, aiming to complete intake by November.

¶ 05 In addition, we restarted the Nursing Sister training (applications from 2022 had stalled). Currently, 517 are in training; in four months they complete phase one, with total training lasting about 18 months. Public Health Nursing Officers: 217 are in training; 82 have completed; new batches will be recruited within two months. Matron promotions: we have notified the Public Service Commission to fill 69 central vacancies; provincial vacancies are also being filled. In short, stalled recruitments have resumed, trainings are proceeding on schedule, and promotions and capacity building in nursing are being implemented systematically.