The 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation officially opened its new head office at Horton Place, Colombo 07, on Friday, marking a milestone for Sri Lanka’s national pre-hospital emergency care service.
Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa inaugurated the facility. Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Harsha de Silva, who founded the ambulance service, was also in attendance alongside several other ministers and parliamentarians.
Expanding National Coverage
The 1990 Suwa Seriya service provides free, round-the-clock emergency medical response across Sri Lanka. The service currently operates 272 ambulances nationwide, with plans to expand the fleet to 400 units to improve response times and coverage in underserved areas.
Officials said the new headquarters will support the continued expansion and operational management of the service as it scales up.
A Cross-Party Success
The ambulance service, launched under a previous government with funding support from India, has become one of Sri Lanka’s most widely used public services. It is notable for receiving bipartisan support — demonstrated by the attendance of both government and opposition figures at Friday’s inauguration.
The 1990 hotline has become synonymous with emergency medical care in Sri Lanka, providing first-response services that have been credited with saving thousands of lives since the programme’s inception.
