The Ministry of Health and Mass Media plans to recruit 2,847 nurses in October this year as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the country’s nursing workforce.
Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced the recruitment plan while addressing the capping and pledge ceremony for the 2021 batch of student nurses at the Colombo School of Nursing on June 25.
According to the minister, the October intake marks the next phase of the government’s plan to recruit 13,600 nurses by 2030 to support the continued development of the public healthcare system.
He said the government expects to achieve nearly half of that recruitment target by the end of this year.
More Recruitment Planned Through 2028
The minister outlined a multi-year recruitment schedule aimed at increasing the number of qualified nurses entering the health sector.
Following the October recruitment of 2,847 nurses, another 1,949 appointments are planned for March 2028.
A further 2,920 nurses are expected to be recruited in August 2028.
The phased recruitment program is intended to address workforce requirements while ensuring hospitals and healthcare institutions continue to receive trained nursing professionals.
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa -BusinessNews.LK
Better Pay and Improved Training
Minister Jayatissa said the government has also taken steps to increase the salaries of all new entrants to the nursing service.
He noted that improving working conditions and remuneration is important to attracting more young people to the profession while helping retain qualified nurses within the public healthcare system.
The minister also acknowledged that several nursing schools continue to operate with limited resources.
He said the government is working to improve facilities at these institutions to provide better training environments for future nurses.
Dedicated Nursing University Under Discussion
As part of broader reforms to nursing education, Jayatissa revealed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Higher Education to establish a dedicated university for nursing education.
According to the minister, the proposed institution would help strengthen professional education and create additional opportunities for nurses to pursue higher academic qualifications.
Addressing the student nurses, Jayatissa described nursing as a highly respected profession and said strengthening the nursing workforce remains essential to further developing the country’s free healthcare system.
The government’s long-term recruitment strategy is expected to improve staffing levels across hospitals while supporting healthcare services as demand continues to increase.
Appointments & Board Shuffles Ministerial Update
Last modified: June 26, 2026
