The failure to grant salary increments to 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service employees since 2018 has emerged as a major challenge to staff retention, with a significant number of trained employees leaving the service to seek better-paying jobs overseas.

The issue was highlighted before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), where officials warned that the existing salary structure was making it increasingly difficult to retain experienced personnel and recruit new staff.

Nalin Perera, the appointed Director of the Suwa Seriya Foundation told the committee that employees were still receiving the initial salaries introduced when the service was established in 2018.

He explained that a Cabinet paper must be submitted to the Department of National Budget through the relevant ministry to secure salary revisions. Until the necessary approval and funding arrangements are made, there are no provisions to increase employees' salaries.

The Chairman of the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, Niroshan Ratnayake said a considerable number of newly recruited employees leave the service even after undergoing training and being assigned duties.

He pointed out that many employees use the professional experience gained through the ambulance service to secure better-paying employment opportunities overseas amid the prevailing economic difficulties.

The committee also discussed accommodation-related challenges faced by ambulance service personnel.

Most Suwa Seriya ambulances are stationed at police stations, while a smaller number operate from Divisional Secretariat offices and temple premises.

Ratnayake said facilities at police stations had been made available to ambulance service employees, but acknowledged that certain shortcomings remained. Discussions are expected to be held with the Police Department to address these issues.

Warning that recruitment and staff retention could become even more challenging in the future, Perera called for direct government intervention to address the concerns.

As an initial measure, he proposed allocating funds annually through the national budget to improve accommodation facilities, with the aim of providing a permanent solution over the next 10 to 15 years.