Sri Lanka's Suwa Seriya emergency ambulance service marked its 10th anniversary with plans to expand its fleet from 319 to 470 vehicles, including 100 new ambulances from India and 50 from the Tata Foundation.
Sri Lanka's Suwa Seriya ambulance service commemorated a decade of operations on Friday at an event held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo. The free pre-hospital emergency care system, which launched on July 28, 2016, with initial support from the Indian government, has grown substantially since its inception with 88 donated ambulances.
Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced significant expansion plans during the anniversary celebration. The service currently operates 319 ambulances nationwide and is poised to reach 470 vehicles following the expected delivery of 100 additional ambulances from India before year's end and another 50 from the Tata Foundation. According to the Health Ministry, Suwa Seriya has responded to over 10 million emergency calls and provided assistance in more than 2.6 million emergency situations over the past decade.
Dr. Jayatissa characterized the service as "a separate chapter in Sri Lanka's history" and stated that the Health Ministry aims to formalize the pre-hospital emergency care system and establish Suwa Seriya as the nation's official ambulance service. The minister acknowledged contributions from founder Dr. Harsha de Silva, former Health Ministers, and the Indian government in establishing and sustaining the initiative.
The anniversary event featured remarks from Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, who reaffirmed India's ongoing commitment to the service and emphasized healthcare cooperation as central to bilateral relations. The occasion also included the launch of a commemorative postage stamp and a new Suwa Seriya mobile application, alongside recognition of 160 long-serving ambulance personnel.
