The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has appointed nine new Deputy Directors General, including directors for the National Hospitals in Colombo, Kandy and Galle, filling positions that had remained vacant for several years.
Appointment letters were handed over on Thursday (11) at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media by Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.
Speaking at the event, Jayatissa described the appointments as a major milestone for the ministry and an important step toward strengthening the country’s healthcare administration.
Several Deputy Director General positions, including key posts at the National Hospitals in Colombo, Kandy and Galle, had remained vacant for between seven and eight years, affecting administrative and management functions within hospitals and health institutions.
Recruitment for the posts followed interviews conducted in May.
Jayatissa said the ministry had spent much of the past one and a half years addressing long-standing administrative shortcomings and had now established a stronger foundation for future reforms.
The minister also assured the newly appointed officials that they would be able to perform their duties independently, free from political interference.
Health Ministry Secretary Anil Jasinghe said Deputy Directors General form the backbone of the ministry and called on the newly appointed officials to use their experience and expertise to serve the public effectively.
The appointments included Dr. M.S.S. Indika Kumara as Deputy Director General of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Dr. P.S. Kiriwandeniya as Deputy Director General (Medical Services) I, Dr. Chandana Gajanayake as Deputy Director General (Dental Services), Dr. K.D.P. Weerasinghe as Deputy Director General (Education, Training and Research), Dr. K.T.C.L. Kumarapeli as Deputy Director General (Mental Health) II, Dr. Priyantha Athapaththu as Deputy Director General of the National Hospital Galle, Dr. S.P.L. Ranaweera as Deputy Director General (Medical Supplies), Dr. M.N. Weerasuriya as Deputy Director General of the National Hospital Kandy and Dr. H.M. Thilakarathna as Deputy Director General (Laboratory Services). (Newswire)