“International Nurses Day”
In line with International Nurses Day, which fell yesterday (12), a commemorative ceremony organized by the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) was held yesterday at the auditorium of the Neurotrauma Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. The event marked the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and was held under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, and Dr. Anil Jasinghe of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media.
The All Ceylon Nurses’ Union had arranged for this primary national celebration to be centered on the official theme declared by the International Council of Nurses (ICN): “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.” The ceremony aimed to appreciate the unique role played by nurses within the healthcare system and society, as well as to recognize their dedication and professional dignity.
Prasad Palipana, Education Secretary of the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union, explained the objectives of the celebration, while keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Sudath Warnakulasuriya of the Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo, and Professor Nirmala Rathnayake, Head of the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna. The event also featured a memorial tribute to Florence Nightingale and the official presentation of the “Hedakama” magazine.
The occasion was attended by Additional Secretary (Administration) II of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Chamika H. Gamage, Deputy Director General (Administration) II Sumeda Priyabhashini, Deputy Director General of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Nursing Council W.A. Keerthiratne, National Trade Union Centre Steering Committee Member D.M. Wijeratne, and the General Secretary of the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union S.B. Mediwatta, along with members of the union and other participants.
