Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that with the government’s decision to upgrade the nursing college into a university, an opportunity has arisen to make a revolutionary transformation in nursing service of the country. He said this on the occasion of International Nurses Day at the celebration event organized by Public Service United Nurses Union at Temple Trees on 12.05.2023.
The Prime Minister further stated that;
Today is International Nurses Day. On International Nurses Day, the Public Service United Nurses Association continues to serve our country under the leadership of Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Nayaka Thera. The field of nursing was committed to the future as one of the main fields responsible for the health of our country.
That responsibility has changed through different periods accompanied with the accepted principles and norms of the time. It should be mentioned with respect that the establishment of the Public Service United Nurses Union is a unique development to bring the nursing service to international standards. The leadership given by Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera in transforming it to that respectable status is unique.
Organizations can be created. Yet the purpose of establishing organizations should be clear. Especially different fields have to face different obstacles. Every organization should have a plan, a purpose and a role to play for its members as well as the society in which the members live. It should be specially mentioned at this time that the Public Service United Nurses Union was dedicated to that goal. It has set many important examples for other trade unions and other professional fields.
Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, Minister Bandula Gunawardena, MPs Rajitah Senaratne, Wajira Abeywardena, Yadamini Gunawardena, Ambassadors of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta and more than 2,000 nurses were present on this occasion.