The Directorate of Health Services has commenced the Diploma in Physiotherapy programme for nursing assistants of tri-services in Sri Lanka. The inauguration ceremony was held at the auditorium of SLAF Base Hospital Katunayake yesterday (23 October 2023). The opening ceremony of the programme was graced by Director General Health Services AVM (Dr) Lalith Jayaweera, Director Special Training Air Commodore Anurudda Wijesiriwardana, Deputy Base Commander Group Captain Ashad Liyanarachchige and Commanding Officer of SLAF Hospital Katunayake Air Commodore (Dr) Vasantha Padmaperruma.
 
The diploma in physiotherapy is a two-year full-time training programme accredited by the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and 14 nursing assistants from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force were enlisted in the first batch of the diploma programme. The panel of experts in the field of physiotherapy will be joined as resource personnel to conduct the lectures to cover the theory component and clinical facilities will be provided from military hospitals as well as the government teaching hospitals.