(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Minister Rajitha Senarathne says the human resources of the health sector will be enhanced in order to provide a quality health service to the people. The shortage of nurses has become the main obstacle in achieving this goal. Therefore the number of nurses is to be increased up to 50,000.
The minister made these remarks at a ceremony held at the President’s house to distribute appointment letters to 1,300 nurses. There are about 6,000 vacancies in the health sector yet to be filled. To provide a quality nursing education a faculty of nursing will be setup at the Sri Jayewardenepura hospital in collaboration with the Colombo University.
Foundation stone for this faculty will be laid in May this year. A sum of 12.5 billion rupees will be spent for this purpose. Overtime allowance of the nurses has been increased by the government in line with the salary increase given to them since January last year. Therefore, they will have a good salary from this month.