Hemas Hospitals’ School of Nursing sees fresh batch graduate at annual capping ceremony

Leading healthcare provider Hemas Hospitals shored up the ranks of its medical staff with a fresh batch of students that graduated from its School of Nursing during the institute’s annual capping ceremony. 

A total of 12 students were formally made nurses while a further 30 received diplomas. The top performers from each of these two groups were Seleesha Weerasinghe from the 2015 batch and Dananjaya Anuruddha from the batch of 2016.   

“I congratulate every student who successfully completed their training at our School of Nursing. Their extensive preparation has equipped them with all the skills and knowledge necessary to forge a successful nursing career while also cultivating within them the deeper values of their profession. These include oftentimes going beyond the call of duty and displaying the right attitude when dealing with patients,” said Hemas Hospitals Managing Director and Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes President Dr. Lakith Peiris. 

“Looking ahead, we plan to expand the nursing school to meet growing demand for highly-trained nurses at each of our hospitals, while also providing an internationally-valued source of employment for the country’s youth.” 

Hemas Hospitals’ School of Nursing opened its doors to aspiring nurses back in 2011 and has since seen five batches graduate to work at its hospitals in Wattala and Thalawathugoda. A few of these nurses also opted to pursue opportunities abroad or continue their higher education locally at the Open University of Sri Lanka or the International Institute of Health Sciences. The training institution currently conducts a three-year nursing diploma accredited to the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). It is also in the process of securing Private Health Services Regulatory Council (PHSRC) registration. Currently, roughly 100 students are enrolled at the School of Nursing, receiving training from an experienced academic staff in spacious air-conditioned lecture halls and fully-equipped Information Technology and practical skills labs. The school’s Principal is J.S. Delpitiya, the former Principal of the National Nursing School of Kandana. Its Senior Nursing Tutors are Wijayanthi Kumari and Chamari Kalupahana, while Achintha Kumarasinghe and Ishara Wanniarachchi function as its Junior Nursing Tutors. Several consultant physicians, paediatricians and other doctors serve as visiting lecturers.

Apart from their education, students at the School of Nursing are also presented with a special financial allowance during the duration of their studies. Their time at the institute is also enlivened through various extracurricular activities and academic competitions. 

The School of Nursing represents just one of Hemas Hospitals’ initiatives to nurture higher professional standards within the profession. This year, the group also entered into a partnership with Manipal Global Education Services (MaGE) in India to elevate the skills of nursing staff at its hospitals in Wattala and Thalawathugoda. This unique collaboration enables nurses there to earn a professionally accredited diploma in nursing after training at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore for 14 days. 

Hemas Hospitals is one of the most advanced hospital chains in Sri Lanka, first established in 2008 with the launch of its pioneering facility in Wattala, followed by a second facility in Thalawathugoda,. The organisation provides a wide array of surgical and medical specialties and has established an island-wide network of clinical laboratories.