President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced a capital expenditure allocation of Rs. 131 billion for the maintenance and development of Sri Lanka’s public healthcare system under the 2027 Budget.
Presenting the Budget in Parliament today (12), the President said the funding was intended to ensure that all citizens could access quality healthcare services through medical institutions administered by both the Central Government and Provincial Councils.
As part of efforts to address staff shortages in the health sector, the Government has recruited 1,797 doctors, 303 indigenous medical practitioners, 64 dental surgeons, 3,441 nurses, 952 public health midwives and 3,415 support staff.
1,000 Arogya Wellness Centres planned
The Government plans to establish 1,000 Arogya Wellness Centres across the country between 2027 and 2029, with an investment of Rs. 17.44 billion in collaboration with Provincial Councils.
The pilot project, consisting of 39 centres designed to provide patient-centred healthcare services to communities of between 5,000 and 10,000 people, is already underway.
An allocation of Rs. 3.6 billion has been made for 2027 to expand the programme.
The President also announced plans to bring six District General Hospitals currently managed by Provincial Councils under the Central Government. The hospitals are located in Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Gampaha and Avissawella.
Meanwhile, Rs. 300 million has been allocated to construct a modern Accident and Emergency Treatment Unit at Thambuttegama Base Hospital.
Rs. 20.5 billion for advanced medical equipment
The Government has identified a funding requirement of Rs. 65.587 billion over three years to meet the country's demand for advanced biomedical equipment, including MRI scanners, CT scanners and Cath Lab facilities.
Accordingly, Rs. 15.5 billion has already been allocated for 2027, with a further Rs. 5 billion proposed to accelerate the supply of modern diagnostic and treatment equipment to hospitals.
New ambulances to strengthen emergency services
The Government has also announced plans to replace ageing ambulances and improve emergency medical services.
Dissanayake said approximately 400 ambulances currently operating in the health service were more than 20 years old, with around half of them exceeding 25 years.
An allocation of Rs. 3 billion has been proposed for 2027 to replace the ageing vehicles.
In addition, 25 ambulances will be provided through an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan facility, while Japan will provide another 20 ambulances as a grant coordinated through the ADB.
A further 100 ambulances will be added to the 1990 Suwa Seriya emergency ambulance service through Indian assistance amounting to Rs. 1.725 billion. The service currently operates 319 ambulances.
Rs. 3.155 billion for organ transplant centre
A new organ transplant centre, including facilities for liver transplantation, will be established at the National Hospital of Colombo at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.155 billion.
The project will receive financial contributions from local and international institutions and organisations, with Rs. 50 million allocated for its initial activities in 2027.
Meanwhile, Rs. 400 million has been allocated to expand the biological Wolbachia dengue vector control programme across the country with technical assistance from the World Mosquito Program (WMP).
The Government has also proposed Rs. 100 million to provide free spectacles to schoolchildren to reduce disruptions to their education caused by vision-related difficulties.
Hospital development projects across the country
A further Rs. 1.245 billion has been allocated to begin new hospital development projects, including staff accommodation facilities, at Badulla and Batticaloa Teaching Hospitals, Matale and Nawalapitiya District General Hospitals, and Puttalam Base Hospital.
In addition, Rs. 510 million has been allocated for feasibility studies and preliminary planning in 2027 for several proposed hospital development projects.
These include the proposed relocation of Matara District General Hospital to Kotawila in Kamburugamuwa, as well as development projects at Kurunegala, Kalubowila and Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospitals, Trincomalee Siddha Teaching Hospital, Moneragala and Polonnaruwa District General Hospitals, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Gampola Base Hospital.
The funding will also cover planning for staff accommodation facilities and regional medical supplies stores.
Rs. 250 million for robotic surgery training
The Government has proposed establishing a robotic surgery training centre at the Faculty of Medicine, Ragama, with an allocation of Rs. 250 million.
The programme will be conducted in collaboration with foreign universities to develop local expertise in robotic-assisted surgical procedures.
Rabies-free Sri Lanka targeted by 2030
The President also outlined plans to strengthen the national
