1990 Suwa Seriya Turns 10: A Decade of Racing Against Time

COLOMBO (News 1st); The 10th anniversary of the 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service was celebrated today (31) at the Foundation Institute in Colombo, marking a decade of transforming emergency medical care in Sri Lanka and saving countless lives across the country.

The event was held under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and was attended by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva and several distinguished guests.

To commemorate the milestone, a special postage stamp and first-day cover were officially issued. Organizers also launched a new mobile application aimed at expanding and improving access to the service.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, Major Niroshan Ratnayake, highlighted the human stories behind every emergency response.

"Behind every call is a person facing one of the most frightening moments of his or her life. Behind every ambulance deployment is a family anxiously waiting for help. Behind every emergency response is a team of committed professionals working against time to save a life."

Despite growing demand and numerous operational challenges, he noted that Suwa Seriya has maintained a nationwide average ambulance response time of approximately 15 minutes.

"Our journey has not been without hardships. Our ambition is to reduce the nationwide average ambulance response time to under 10 minutes. We plan to expand our operational fleet to approximately 400 ambulances and increase deployment locations, including at police stations and other strategic locations. We also plan to introduce motorcycle emergency response units in congested areas, including Colombo and Gampaha, enabling trained personnel to commence care before ambulances arrive," he said.

Reflecting on the service's journey, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva described the anniversary as a deeply personal moment.

"Nalinda, this is truly a very happy day for me. Many initiatives begin with fanfare and celebrations, but after a short time they simply disappear. This new political culture is a positive one. Just because someone else started a programme does not mean it should be stopped or changed. Suwa Seriya is the best example of that."

"I am genuinely grateful for the invitation to be here today because my happiness is at its highest. I remember April 8, 2016. That was the day we first took a group of 144 people to Hyderabad. Getting to that point was extremely difficult. Instead of receiving congratulations from those standing outside with cameras, we were often met with criticism and hostility."

"Back then, I never imagined that ten years later this initiative would grow to the point where a commemorative stamp would be issued in its honour. It took tremendous sacrifice to bring it to where it is today. Let us continue to support it. I will give it my full support, just as I did then, as I do today, and as I will in the future," he said.

Suwa Seriya personnel were also recognized and honoured for their dedication and service over the past decade.

Addressing the gathering, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa paid tribute to those who helped build and sustain the service.

"There were many people who worked tirelessly to transform this concept into a reality ten years ago, beginning with our friend Harsha de Silva and numerous political representatives who contributed to its success. They ensured that this initiative was sustained and never abandoned. Every one of them deserves the gratitude and recognition of the nation."

The Minister also announced a significant expansion of the fleet.

"During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, and following a request made by our President, arrangements have been made for an additional 100 ambulances to be added to the Suwa Seriya fleet," he said.

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha reaffirmed India's continued support for the service and Sri Lanka's healthcare sector.

"India has for years supported Sri Lanka in strengthening its public health infrastructure and emergency care system. During the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and following a request by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, we pledged further assistance to expand the Suwa Seriya service. We are currently in the process of finalizing the necessary arrangements and delivering a new set of ambulances."

"I hope this will help reduce the response time from the current 13 minutes to 10 minutes," he added.

What began as a bold and often criticized initiative ten years ago has today evolved into one of Sri Lanka's most trusted public services. 

As Suwa Seriya enters its second decade, plans for more ambulances, new technology and faster response times signal an even bigger mission ahead: ensuring that help arrives when every second matters most.