Sri Lanka’s 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service today (July 28) celebrates a decade since its first vehicle was flagged off at Galle Face in 2016.

Opposition MP Harsha de Silva, who spearheaded the initiative, said that the free ambulance service was launched amidst heavy protest from the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and certain political groups.

In a post on ‘X’, Harsha de Silva noted that the service has since grown into the country’s most loved and efficient public service, now attending to around 1,000 incidents daily and covering nearly 30,000 kilometres every day.

He expressed gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for backing the project, and to the people of India for the initial USD 23 million grant that helped turn the idea into reality.

Harsha de Silva credited the vision and technological innovation of the board led by Dumindra Ratnayake, and the execution by more than 1,500 staff under CEO Dr. Sohan De Silva, for building Suwa Seriya into a service that can deliver a “fully equipped micro hospital” to any doorstep in under 13 minutes on average.

He also extended best wishes to the new management appointed last year by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging them to continue and improve on this life‑saving service.

“May 1990 Suwa Seriya continue to serve the people of this country for generations to come,” de Silva added. (Newswire)

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The management of the 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service (Suwa Seriya) today dismissed social media reports claiming the service had been deactivated, stressing that operations continue uninterrupted across the island.

In a statement, the Board of Directors, including the Chairman, described the circulating posts as “completely false” and misleading to the public.

They emphasized that Suwa Seriya remains fully functional nationwide, delivering services in the usual manner with improved efficiency. 

The management further assured that the emergency ambulance service will continue to operate without disruption in the future. (Newswire)

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The name and 1990 hotline of the Suwa Seriya free ambulance service have not been changed, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed in Parliament today.

Addressing the house, Minister Jayatissa said no decision has been made on changing the existing colour of the ambulance service.

“The ambulance service was introduced in the 2015-2020 period when Ranil Wickremesinghe was Prime Minister, and with the intervention of MP Harsha de Silva. We will continue the ambulance service with the green colour introduced by your government. Do not make this an issue,” Minister Jayatissa further said. 

However, the Health Minister pointed out that the ambulance service needs to be developed in line with the global medical emergency services.

“The 1990 hotline and ambulance service is well registered in the public’s mind. So we will not change the hotline, its name or the green colour. What we intend to do is to develop it by introducing the latest technology in line with global standards,” he said.

Briefing the Parliament further, Minister Jayatissa said, “We allocated Rs. 500 million for this service in 2025. We are recruiting emergency medical technicians. Discussions are underway with India to obtain 100 more ambulances. Another 85 ambulances are to be received from the Asian Development Bank as a grant. We intend to strengthen the fleet to 500 ambulances and upgrade its services with modern technology per global standards and train the relevant staff accordingly.”

Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service has been brought under the purview of the Health Ministry and is being developed as a unit of the ministry. 

His clarification comes after the opposition recently raised concerns over alleged changes being made to the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service, after a newspaper advertisement was published with changes to the logo. 

Watch : https://www.facebook.com/reel/2073103369762466 

Responding to Minister Jayatissa, Opposition MP Harsha de Silva displayed the new letterhead of the ambulance service, stating that it is now identified as a National Emergency Ambulance Service.

“At the bottom, it refers to Suwa Seriya in small print. But it bears no resemblance to the original Suwa Seriya Service. Please do not change this. People are used to the old name,” he said, addressing Parliament today. 

MP Harsha de Silva appealed to the government not to change the objective of the service, pointing out that it is purely an emergency response ambulance service, but the government’s advertisement refers to something entirely different. 

Replying to MP Harsha de Silva, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa reiterated that the motive of the government was to only upgrade the services of the ambulance in line with global practices. (Newswire) 

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Opposition MP Harsha de Silva says it has been confirmed that changes have been made to the 1990 Suwa Seriya free ambulance service.

In a post on ‘X’, MP de Silva said the name ‘Suwa Seriya’ has been dropped and changes have been made to the ambulance service’s logo and colours, at least on paper. 

“So is it now official? “Suwa Seriya” has been dropped from the name, and the logo and colours have been changed, at least on paper.  The question is, when was the “1990 Sri Lanka Emergency Medical Service” established? Under what law? What are its objectives? It states clearly this service is “emergency AND pre-hospital care,” he questioned.

MP Harsha de Silva pointed out that what was established by the 1990 Suwa Seriya Act No 18 of 2018 was purely a ‘pre-hospital care’ ambulance service. 

He said, as such, by law, Suwa Seriya cannot transport patients intra-hospital even in an emergency. 

“The objective was and must continue to be ‘pre-hospital care’. If it is to be changed, the law must be changed, and necessary accreditations must be obtained. What a circus this has become!” he added. (Newswire)

So is it now official? “SuwaSeriya” has been dropped from the name and the logo and colours have been changed, at least on paper.

The question is when was “1990 Sri Lanka Emergency Medical Service” established? Under what law? What are its objectives? It states clearly this… pic.twitter.com/FyD8SjAuS3

— Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) October 14, 2025

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The proposal to obtain 95 ambulances for the ‘1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation’ as grants from India and the Asian Development Bank has received Cabinet approval. 

According to the government, the ‘1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation’ was initiated with a fleet of 297 Ambulances which were obtained from TATA Sons (Pvt) Ltd in India under a grant of the Indian Government in 2016, to provide pre-hospital treatments and emergency treatment services. 

At present, 322 ambulances are operated, including 25 ambulances provided by the Government of Sri Lanka. As per the target of the Suwa Seriya Foundation, it has been identified that 450 ambulances and 25 back-up ambulances are required and there is a dearth of 150 ambulances at present. 

Accordingly, TATA Sons (Pvt) Ltd from India has agreed to provide 50 ambulances and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide 45 ambulances, as grants. 

The Cabinet has agreed to the proposal presented by the Minister of Health to take necessary steps to obtain the said ambulances for the ‘1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation’. (Newswire)

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By Martin Raiser (Vice President for the South Asia Region, World Bank Group)

In the rural town of Morawaka located in Southern Sri Lanka, home to lush tea estates and paddy fields, Ramya is finally mother to a beautiful baby girl. She was born after a harrowing experience of an umbilical cord prolapse, a condition where the umbilical cord gets out of the body before the baby and risks cutting off the baby’s blood and oxygen supply. Ramya’s daughter was thankfully born safe—although in a surprising twist—aboard an ambulance, one of the world’s most digitally advanced and free ambulance services in Sri Lanka called ‘1990 Suwa Seriya’. 

Since its launch in 2016, 1.8 million Sri Lankan citizens in distress have dialed 1990 , and a Suwa Seriya ambulance has rushed them to the nearest hospital or primary care facility within 12 minutes of their call, one of the fastest response rates in the world for an ambulance service. In these seven years, Suwa Seriya has saved countless lives—providing citizens the highest level of pre-hospital care, reducing complications caused by delayed care, and enabling them to get back into the workforce in record time—making a positive contribution to the country’s economy.

South Asia is home to many development innovations, including in the delivery of social services through government-private sector-and civil society partnerships, and so 1990 Suwa Seriya stands in a proud tradition. What can we learn from its experience, so it can be replicated and scaled across other countries in the region?

Championing a unique operational model

Established through a dedicated Act of Parliament in 2018, 1990 Suwa Seriya is a government entity that operates with the agility and independence of a private sector organization, resulting in remarkable efficiency and setting new standards for government-delivered services. I remember first hearing about this service when I met with MP Harsha De Silva—he described the project as a testament to the power of bipartisan support, above the political fray and focused uniquely on saving lives.

To enable this single pointed focus, 1990 Suwa Seriya’s operation is end-to-end process driven, with technology as its backbone. We see that in its commitment to continuous improvement—from its logistical operations on how to fuel ambulances in record time and its R&D on how to integrate Artificial Intelligence into its emergency response system, to keeping an eye on continuous learning for staff on new systems and technologies and finding innovative funding streams so as to not strain public finances. Being governed by a board comprised predominantly of private sector volunteers and insulated from the typical constraints of public sector operations helps the organization make swift, informed decisions that are crucial for saving lives. 

Unlocking digital innovation

We know that digitization is a game changer for South Asia. 1990 Suwa Seriya has tapped into this potential by leading digital innovation in health and emergency services. Its trademark speed and efficiency come from digital integration into its processes and operations—from using specific algorithms to identify the fastest (not the nearest) ambulance that can be deployed to an emergency, to tracking callers’ locations through an app, to digitally tracking fuel levels in its vehicles.

A new ambitious pilot initiative called Connected Ambulance takes digital health to new heights by incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality to allow physicians to treat a patient in real time on board an ambulance. Suwa Seriya’s success is an example of how technology can help revolutionize service delivery in developing countries.

Bridging access to primary healthcare

By filling a critical gap in pre-hospital care and improving connectivity between emergency ambulance service and primary care facilities, 1990 Suwa Seriya is strengthening Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare system and giving a second chance at life to the millions who are critically injured. The ambulance service also complements the work done by the World Bank-financed Primary Healthcare Strengthening Project to enhance Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare services. My colleague, Anna Bjerde, most recently wrote about how this project has significantly enhanced primary healthcare services in about 1,100 institutions across the country. Pre-hospital ambulance services such as Suwa Seriya would greatly complement such ongoing and comprehensive efforts in healthcare services reform in Sri Lanka.

Also of note is the speed of the Suwa Seriya service, which counts in a nation where 34% of public deaths are from coronary heart disease and the window to save a life is short. The service was particularly indispensable during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Suwa Seriya transporting close to 175,000 COVID-19 patients to the hospital. 

In addition, the service has also improved healthcare access in hard-to-reach rural areas such as in Ramya’s case above, ensuring equitable access of emergency services to vulnerable citizens, and reducing overall morbidity and mortality in the country. Earlier, being transported to the hospital on a three-wheeler or a tuk tuk would result in more cases of blood loss, hemorrhages, and even death.  Today, 63% of Suwa Seriya’s emergency calls are from rural residents.

Supporting local partnerships

The growth of Suwa Seriya is a testament to homegrown innovation and local funding.  The technology that drives the service was all developed through Sri Lanka’s software development community, underscoring the need for countries to invest in digital skills. 

Initially funded by a grant from India, 1990 Suwa Seriya has since been supported by the Sri Lankan government. However, it deliberately seeks private donors and sponsors to fund its digital innovations so as to not rely solely on public funding in a resource-constrained environment. In its largest fundraiser yet, Suwa Seriya raised an impressive LKR 750 million in private funding via its “adopt an ambulance” campaign. 

South Asia has been hard hit by several shocks in recent years, from devastating natural disasters and economic crises to pandemics and political upheavals. However, initiatives like 1990 Suwa Seriya show that countries can be resilient and innovative even during crises, displaying homegrown creative solutioning at its best and how it can be replicated and expanded to create widespread benefits for the entire population. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s Free Ambulance Service, 1990 Suwa Seriya, marks its 7th anniversary today (July 28). 

The pioneer of the ambulance service, Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva, stated that this momentous occasion celebrates the unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the people of Sri Lanka and reaffirms the dedication to providing unparalleled support to maintain this indispensable service, regardless of any challenges that may arise.

In its seven years of operation, 1990 Suwa Seriya has emerged as the most efficient public service in Sri Lanka, achieving remarkable milestones. With a staggering 6,609,357 calls answered and 1,581,554 emergencies attended, the service has proven to be a lifeline for countless individuals in critical situations.

Issuing a statement to mark the occasion, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva recalled the early days of the service, acknowledging the strong opposition from trade unions and the financial struggles faced during the economic crisis. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable support received from the private sector, which played a pivotal role in keeping the service operational. 

“Today, 1990 Suwa Seriya stands tall as the saviour of the nation, a testament to the enduring spirit of unity and collaboration. The success of 1990 Suwa Seriya would not have been possible without the unwavering support of various individuals and entities,” he said.

MP Dr. Harsha de Silva extended his appreciation to everyone involved, including President Ranil Wickramasinghe, whose support was instrumental in establishing the service. He also acknowledged the dedicated Directors, particularly the Chairman of Suwa Seriya Foundation, Dumindra Ratnayake, and the tireless staff who work day and night to ensure the service’s seamless functioning.

Since its inception on July 28, 2016, 1990 Suwa Seriya has attended to approximately 15,000,000 patients, setting an exceptional standard in emergency response times. Responding to calls within an astounding 8 minutes and 45 seconds in Colombo and 14 minutes and 29 seconds outside Colombo, the service has earned a reputation for its exceptional efficiency.

MP de Silva reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining and enhancing the 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service for the greater good of the nation, emphasizing the critical importance of its continued existence as an indispensable lifeline for the people of Sri Lanka.

He also expressed profound gratitude for India’s invaluable support in kickstarting this initiative, especially acknowledging the unwavering backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heeded his call and has remained ever-supportive throughout the journey.

On this occasion, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva extended his heartfelt regards to all the board members and 1500 dedicated staff, acknowledging their dedication and perseverance in ensuring the success of this vital service. (NewsWire)

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Several corporates have stepped forward to assist the ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ programme which has been launched in aid of the 1990 Suwaseriya ambulance service, Opposition MP Harsha de Silva said. 

MP Harsha de Silva said in a Twitter message that this donation to the Government of Sri Lanka for the Suwaseriya free ambulance service will be fully tax deductible. 

“We are glad to note that many corporates have already stepped forward. Today has been an extraordinarily good day with adoptions pouring in,” he revealed.

Assuring that it is confirmed all donations to this worthy cause will be 100 percent tax deductible, the MP requested those interested to try to provide their assistance before the 31st March end of tax year deadline.

The ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ programme has been launched by the Board and Managament of the Suwaseriya ambulance service.

This is due to the Treasury being unable to fully fund its operations which may lead to the service being unsustainable in 2023. 

Thereby, the ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ programme has been launched to request corporates and individuals to provide funding for an ambulance at a cost of Rs. 5 million. (NewsWire)

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