The Sri Lanka health sector is set for a significant upgrade as the government prepares to purchase vital vehicles using World Bank financing. The investment aims to strengthen frontline services and improve access to care nationwide.
Sri Lanka health sector upgrade advances with new World Bank-funded vehicle purchases
Sri Lanka is moving ahead with a major initiative to enhance transportation facilities for its frontline health workers, using US$150 million in funding secured from the World Bank. The investment is part of the Primary Health Care System Improvement Project, which runs from 2024 to 2028, and is designed to strengthen preventive care, expand community-based services, and improve the country’s readiness for climate-related medical emergencies.
The financing agreement has been signed with the International Development Association (IDA), the concessional arm of the World Bank Group. According to Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, the project’s focus extends far beyond improving facilities, aiming instead to reinforce the foundation of Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare network at a time when demand for efficient services is steadily increasing. The initiative supports nationwide efforts to manage non-communicable diseases, improve palliative and elderly care, and build greater resilience within the health system.
One of the key challenges identified during the project’s planning phase was the shortage of transportation for field staff. These include family health workers, public health inspectors, primary care nurses, midwives, and other teams responsible for delivering essential community-level services. With limited mobility, many of these professionals struggle to reach remote households, conduct monitoring visits, or participate effectively in outreach programs.
Jayatissa noted that transportation constraints have long affected the quality and reach of Sri Lanka’s public health delivery model, which relies heavily on field visits and home-based service delivery. The approval from the cabinet to purchase a broad range of vehicles reflects a targeted approach to addressing these operational bottlenecks. The fleet expansion is expected to directly support the government’s goals of improving surveillance, enhancing field testing, and ensuring timely interventions for vulnerable populations.
Under the newly approved procurement plan, a diverse set of vehicles will be acquired to strengthen various components of the health system. These include 26 clinical waste transport lorries to support safer and more efficient disposal processes and 26 double cabs to facilitate supervisory and field monitoring duties. Five 10-seater vans and two 42-seater buses are also included, enabling better staff transport and logistical coordination across districts.
A significant portion of the investment will go toward mobility support for midwives and public health professionals. The government will purchase 2,891 scooters for midwives, 200 scooters for public health nursing officers, and 1,350 motorbikes for public health inspectors. These additions are expected to greatly improve outreach capacity, especially in rural and underserved areas where regular home visits are essential for maternal care, immunization programs, and disease prevention initiatives.
Further allocations include 200 scooters for laboratory services staff, ensuring timely specimen collection and faster field testing, and 20 freezer trucks for the Medical Supplies Division to enhance temperature-controlled distribution of sensitive medical items. Eight forklifts will also be purchased to improve warehouse operations and streamline the handling of medical supplies nationwide.
In addition to ground transport, the cabinet has approved specialized vehicles tailored to region-specific needs. This includes a crew cab for the Puttalam Regional Health Office and notably, an ambulance boat for the Jaffna District, where water routes are often the most practical way to access island communities. This demonstrates a localized approach to addressing on-the-ground realities in different parts of the country.
Minister Jayatissa emphasized that these vehicle purchases are not simply an administrative upgrade but a strategic step toward expanding the reach of home-based care and community-level health services. With improved transportation, field teams will be able to respond more efficiently, conduct more frequent visits, and ensure that essential health interventions reach households without delay. He noted that enhancing mobility is a critical component in elevating the performance of the primary healthcare network, which serves as the foundation of Sri Lanka’s public health model.
The plan also aligns closely with the larger objectives of the World Bank-supported project, which aims to modernize the country’s approach to health challenges. As non-communicable diseases continue to rise and climate-related risks intensify, a stronger, more agile field network is crucial. By addressing transportation gaps, the government is equipping frontline staff with tools they need to respond effectively to emergencies, carry out routine monitoring, and ensure better continuity of care.
The investment underscores the importance of maintaining a resilient health system capable of serving diverse communities across the island. With enhanced mobility and logistical support, Sri Lanka aims to deliver faster, safer, and more efficient public health services, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of its population.