Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Sir, I will take five minutes.

¶ 02 On nutrition, we are starting a three-year continuous programme. Under the Secretary’s leadership, with university and ministry experts, we have commenced discussions. With Mass Media, we will address both undernutrition and rising obesity. We have allocated Rs. 5,000 million for Triposha. Concerns arose about aflatoxins in maize, so we started rice-based Triposha. The first batch will be distributed in Nuwara Eliya for children aged 6–36 months, then expanded to children up to five years and to pregnant mothers.

¶ 03 We are also addressing maize import/production issues with the relevant ministry. To the Opposition: we are not closing the Triposha factory; instead, the Government has injected Rs. 5,000 million to revive production.

¶ 04 On health tourism, we will pursue combined models with Ayurveda. As a start, we allocate Rs. 5 million to revive stalled units. We took over Pottuvil Base Hospital to promote health tourism. I invite the private sector to partner with us; if interested, let us discuss developing Neville Fernando Hospital as a medical tourism center.

¶ 05 Recruitment was a major issue over the past four years. We are proceeding now: 976 Public Health Midwives will receive appointments mid-March; 238 Public Health Inspectors, 65 Pharmacists, 43 Occupational Therapists, and 41 Radiographers too. A total of 3,147 nursing officers will get appointments in April. We have approval to recruit 1,000 attendants, with limited recruitment underway to complete by May 2025. Applications have been called for 50 ward clerks and 49 housekeepers. In early April, training will commence for 151 pharmacy technicians, 68 school dental therapists, 61 ECG technicians, 30 entomology officers, 22 public health laboratory technologists, 88 radiographers, and 17 audiology technicians.