The commemorative event, organized by the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union, was held at the auditorium of the Neurology Department of the Colombo National Hospital, drawing attention to the need for greater investment in nursing education, welfare, and institutional support.
This year’s observance, held in line with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) theme “Our Nurses our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” focused on strengthening the capacity of nurses to meet growing healthcare demands.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne and Senior Specialist of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe underscored the importance of empowering nurses through improved training opportunities, better working conditions, and institutional recognition.
Speakers noted that the healthcare system’s resilience heavily depends on the nursing workforce, urging that policy attention be directed toward addressing long-standing challenges faced by the sector.
Education Secretary of the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union Prasad Palipana emphasized the need to uphold the professional dignity of nurses while expanding opportunities for career development within the health system.
Academic contributions by Head of Nursing, University of Colombo Professor Sudath Warnakulasuriya and Head of Nursing, University of Ruhuna Professor Nirmala Ratnayake highlighted the importance of modernizing nursing education to match evolving global healthcare standards.
The event also included the launch of the magazine “Nursing”, aimed at promoting professional knowledge sharing and strengthening the voice of nursing practitioners in Sri Lanka.
Officials present, including Additional Secretary (Administration II) of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Chamika H. Gamage, Deputy Director General (Administration II) Sumedha Priyabhashini, Deputy Director General of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Nursing Council W. A. Keerthirathne, and General Secretary of the All Ceylon Nursing Association S. B. Mediwatte reiterated the need for sustained policy attention to strengthen the nursing profession in Sri Lanka’s evolving healthcare landscape.
