Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has made a heartfelt appeal to Sri Lankan specialist doctors working overseas to return home and serve the nation’s struggling healthcare system.
During an official visit to the United Kingdom, Minister Jayatissa met with Sri Lankan doctors living and working in Britain at a discussion organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission. Addressing the gathering, he underscored the urgent need for medical specialists to strengthen the country’s public health sector, which has been facing an acute shortage of experienced professionals.
The Minister said he personally requested doctors who had left Sri Lanka for professional or personal reasons to consider returning, emphasizing that their expertise was vital for restoring the stability and efficiency of national healthcare services. He assured them that any specialist who decides to return will be reinstated in their previous positions with full recognition of their prior service and entitlements.
“I made a special request to our doctors abroad to come back and support our health system,” he said. “There is a severe shortage of specialist doctors in Sri Lanka today. If they return, they will be reinstated with all their benefits and seniority intact.”
The appeal comes amid growing concerns about the “brain drain” affecting Sri Lanka’s healthcare infrastructure, as many trained professionals continue to seek better opportunities overseas. The government’s call aims to reverse this trend and bring back the country’s most skilled medical experts to rebuild confidence in the national health service.
