A review of projects implemented under the 2025 budget allocations for the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, along with a pre-budget discussion for 2026, was held yesterday (20th) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion examined allocations for 41 institutions under four departments of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, as well as the progress of projects implemented under these allocations.
President Dissanayake instructed officials to prioritize strengthening primary healthcare services in the upcoming budget. He reviewed the ongoing programme to develop Primary Health Centres, noting that currently one centre serves 30,000 people, with plans to improve this to one centre per 10,000 people.
Discussions also focused on organisational and structural reforms in the health service to align with current technological and social conditions. Construction works within the health sector and related challenges were addressed, along with medical equipment procurement and updates to procurement guidelines, including those for the Ayurvedic sector. Plans to enhance the facilities of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority to ensure the quality of medicines were also considered.
The President emphasized that essential vehicles for services such as the National Blood Transfusion Service must be acquired within the year. He further stressed the need for transformation not only in physical infrastructure but also in human resources, in response to technological advancement and population growth. A new National Health Policy and Strategic Plan are scheduled to launch next year.
The effective use of foreign aid and grants to deliver benefits to the public was highlighted, with provincial issues to be resolved through dialogue. Attention was also drawn to ensuring the credibility of health-related donations, proposing a digital mechanism to confirm reliability for both donors and recipients.
It was revealed that the “Suwa Seriya” ambulance service, currently operating across the country, will be expanded from 272 to 400 ambulances.
Future plans for the Ministry of Mass Media were discussed, with the President emphasizing the role of state media in shaping social attitudes. Officials were instructed to present a plan to engage state media in this process, with budget allocations earmarked accordingly.
Extensive discussion was held on modernizing the Postal Service to meet present-day needs, including integrating courier services with modern technology to create a new operational model.
The President noted that past budgets had insufficient allocations for necessary projects, but the most recent budget provides adequate provisions. He stressed the importance of utilizing these funds effectively to ensure maximum benefits for the public.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, along with several senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media.
