Sri Lanka’s 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service marked its 10th anniversary on Monday (28), celebrating a decade of providing free emergency medical care across the country.
The first ambulance was flagged off at Galle Face on July 28, 2016. Today, the service responds to around 1,000 emergencies every day and covers nearly 30,000 kilometres daily.
Opposition MP Harsha de Silva, who led the initiative, said the project faced strong opposition when it was introduced. He recalled protests from the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and several political groups before the service became operational.
In a post on X, de Silva described 1990 Suwa Seriya as one of the country’s most trusted public services.
He thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the people of India for the USD 23 million grant that helped launch the service.
De Silva also recognised the contribution of the board led by Dumindra Ratnayake and more than 1,500 staff under CEO Dr Sohan De Silva. He said their work helped build a service that can bring a fully equipped ambulance to patients in less than 13 minutes on average.
He also wished the new management, appointed last year by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, success in continuing and improving the service.
“May 1990 Suwa Seriya continue to serve the people of this country for generations to come,” de Silva said.
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Last modified: July 28, 2026
