The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has granted permanent appointments to 223 individuals across four key service categories to address staffing shortages and enhance operational efficiency in hospitals and healthcare institutions.
The appointment ceremony was held on the morning of November 14, 2026, at the new auditorium of the Biomedical Engineering Section of the Ministry, under the patronage of Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Dr. Jayatissa emphasized the administration’s fiscal discipline and needs based recruitment policy, stating, “The government is not prepared to burden the country’s economy by expanding the public service unnecessarily.”
The Minister noted that while past administrations often utilized public sector recruitment for election-driven political objectives, the current government evaluates actual institutional requirements through a formal committee headed by the Prime Minister’s Secretary. The newly filled positions comprise 36 State Health Management Assistants, 27 Storekeepers, 6 Minor Service Controllers and 154 Health Care Assistants.
Addressing broader healthcare sector developments, Minister Jayatissa announced that an additional group of 1,600 primary-grade medical officers is scheduled to be recruited before the end of the month. He also highlighted that annual public service salary expenditures currently approach Rs. 900 billion, funded entirely through public tax revenue, and reminded all officials to execute their duties with responsibility toward public funds. Furthermore, the new permanent appointees will benefit from upcoming government salary revisions, featuring a basic salary increase in January followed by an allowance increase in July.
The event was attended by Ministry Secretary Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary Janaka Kitsiri Gunewardena, Director General of Health Services Specialist Dr. Asela Gunewardena, alongside other senior ministry officials. (Newswire)
