Government to Recruit 13,600 Nurses Over Five Years: Minister Nalinda Jayatissa

31-May-2026

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Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has announced plans to recruit 13,600 nurses between 2025 and 2029 under the current Government's human resource expansion programme.

The Minister made the announcement while addressing a ceremony at which appointment letters were issued to 515 Nursing Officers.

He stated that the Ministry had assessed staffing requirements and vacancies across national hospitals, teaching hospitals and district general hospitals under the Central Government.

According to the Minister, nursing vacancies are being gradually filled, with 3,441 trainees who completed their training last year already appointed.

Including the 515 nurses appointed at the latest ceremony, a total of 3,956 nurses have been recruited over the past year, representing one of the largest intakes in recent times.

A further 2,867 nurses are expected to be recruited in October, while 6,823 new nurses are scheduled to join the service during 2025 and 2026.

Additionally, 1,949 nurses are expected to be recruited in 2028, followed by another batch of 2,920 by mid-2029.

The Minister said recruitment efforts, including the intake of science graduates through nursing universities, are aimed at meeting long-term workforce targets and aligning Sri Lanka's healthcare system with international standards.

Speaking at the event, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe described nursing as a unique and essential service. He noted that the last recruitment of graduate nurses for tertiary-level scientific positions took place in 2021, making the current intake particularly significant after a gap of five years.