Government to Expand Suwaseriya Ambulance Fleet to 500

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa announced, that government has decided to increase the number of Suwaseriya ambulances to 500, 

He made this statement while attending a special training program for medical technicians of the 1990 Suwaseriya Foundation, held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Minister Jayatissa said that steps will be taken to modernize and innovate the ambulance service by incorporating the latest global technology. 

As part of this expansion, Sri Lanka is set to receive 100 ambulances through discussions with the Indian government, 20 ambulances under a loan facility from the Asian Development Bank, and an additional 25 ambulances through donations.

Meanwhile, Suwaseriya Foundation Chairman Niroshan Ratnayake stated that a 10-year development plan has been prepared for the service.

He added that a special mechanism is being introduced to address delays in ambulance arrivals.

Under the new system, if an ambulance is unable to reach a location promptly, officers will be dispatched on motorcycles immediately after receiving the emergency call.