History of the Graduate Nurses’ Foundation of Sri Lanka
Building a Professional Home for Graduate Nurses
The Graduate Nurses’ Foundation of Sri Lanka (GNFSL) was established in 2003 with the vision of creating a professional organisation through which graduate nurses could work collectively for the advancement of nursing and the professional development and welfare of its members.
From its inception, the Foundation has sought to bring together graduate nurses working across different areas of nursing, including hospital services, community services and nursing education. It was established as a voluntary and independent professional organisation, with a particular emphasis on advancing nursing education, professional practice, research and the recognition of nursing as a profession.
The Foundation’s inaugural President was Mrs. Malinie Ranasinghe, a former Senior Tutor and Principal of the School of Nursing, Colombo, who served from 2003 to 2009. Her leadership marked the beginning of an organisation that would progressively develop into a national professional platform for graduate nurses.
The Early Years: Establishing the Foundation
The early years of GNFSL were devoted to establishing the Foundation as a professional body and creating opportunities for graduate nurses to connect, learn and contribute to the development of nursing.
The early years of the Graduate Nurses’ Foundation of Sri Lanka (GNFSL) were devoted to establishing a unified professional body representing graduate nurses across Sri Lanka.
The Foundation’s inaugural session was held on 9 August 2003 at the lecture hall of the Nurses’ Quarters, No.93, Regent Street, Colombo 10, marking an important milestone in the collective development of the graduate nursing community.
The inaugural Executive Committee was led by Mrs Malini Ranasinghe (President), supported by Ms Sujatha Setheviratne (Vice-President), Ms Deepani Karunaratne (Secretary), Ms Sriyani Kumarasinghe (Assistant Secretary), Ms Manel Hariswandra (Treasurer), Ms Yuneska Abeynayake (Assistant Treasurer), and Mr Sunil Silva (Media and Publications Officer). The Executive Committee also included Mr Rasika Jayasekara, Mrs D.P. Abeyratne, Mrs D.M.D.K. Dissanayake, Ms A.V. Pramuditha Madhavi, Mrs Hemamala Withanarachchi, Mrs Ranjani Kulatunga, and Mr R.A.D. Upul Kosman.
From its inception, GNFSL envisioned working collaboratively with the wider nursing community of Sri Lanka. It was established as exclusively a professional association rather than a trade union.
The aims of GNFSL were representing graduate nurses nationally, encouraging postgraduate education and research, contributing professional expertise to nursing policy decisions, fostering friendship and collaboration among nurses, and enhancing the professional image, satisfaction and pride of the nursing profession.
Research publication and professional communication were among the Foundation’s early priorities. The archive includes the first volume of New Vision, with issues dating back to March 2004, only one year after the establishment of GNFSL. The October 2004 issue marked the Foundation’s first anniversary (2003–2004).
New Vision: Preserving the Voice of GNFSL
One of the most enduring achievements of GNFSL has been the development of its official publication, New Vision.
The newsletter archive demonstrates the continuity of this publication across more than two decades. The available archive begins with Volume 1, Issue 1 in March 2004 and includes subsequent issues through 2005 to date.
Over time, New Vision has developed from a newsletter into an important professional communication and knowledge-sharing platform. Its content has included messages from Foundation leaders, professional and academic articles, members’ contributions, reports of GNFSL activities and information relevant to contemporary nursing practice.
The publication was assigned the ISSN 2613-8735, further reflecting its development as an established publication of the Foundation.
The commitment to New Vision has also extended across generations of GNFSL leadership. The Foundation’s 2024 publication records, for example, acknowledge the continuing contribution of its editors, language editors and reviewers, demonstrating the collective effort involved in sustaining the publication.
The establishment of New Vision provided the Foundation with an enduring platform to communicate with its members, share professional knowledge and create opportunities for nurses to contribute their ideas and experiences. Over the years, the newsletter has evolved alongside the Foundation and has become an important historical record of its activities, achievements and the development of nursing in Sri Lanka.
Becoming Part of the Wider Professional Community
A significant milestone in the history of GNFSL was its affiliation with the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) in 2005, as its 25th member association. The Foundation’s publications identify GNFSL as an association affiliated with OPA from 2005, and the organization has subsequently participated within the wider professional community represented by OPA.
This affiliation represented an important step in positioning graduate nurses within Sri Lanka’s broader professional landscape and provided GNFSL with an opportunity to contribute to multidisciplinary professional dialogue.
Biennial Academic Sessions
The Biennial Academic Sessions have become a major feature of GNFSL’s professional calendar, providing a platform for graduate nurses, academics, researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students, and nursing professionals to share research findings, exchange knowledge, and discuss emerging issues in nursing practice, education and healthcare. Initiated in 2018 under the leadership of Dr M.K.D.L. Meegoda. The inaugural sessions were themed “Education and Research in Nursing: The way forward to Sustainable Development” and reflected the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to promoting nursing research and strengthening evidence-based practice.
Over the years, the academic sessions have addressed evolving priorities in the nursing profession through themes that encourage research, innovation and professional advancement. The 2nd Biennial Academic Sessions were held in 2020, themed “Nursing Leadership Towards Sustainable Development”. The 3rd Biennial Academic Sessions in 2022, held virtually, focused on “Advancement of Nursing Practice through Evidence-based Research”. The 4th Biennial Academic Sessions in 2024 adopted the theme “Advancing Nursing Practice Towards Sustainability, Equity, and Excellence”, highlighting the importance of sustainable and equitable nursing practice. Continuing this progression, the 5th Biennial Academic Sessions in 2026 explored “Empowering the Nursing Workforce: Advancing Practice, Education, and Public Health”, emphasizing the interconnected roles of nursing practice, education and public health in strengthening the profession.
Responding to Change: From Traditional Communication to Digital Engagement
GNFSL has also adapted to changes in the professional and technological environment.
The Foundation identified the need for an official website several years before its eventual launch, recognizing that digital communication could enable GNFSL to reach a wider nursing community while reducing geographical barriers. Dr. K.A. Sriyani spearheaded the development and launch of the official GNFSL website on 12 February 2022. This provided a new platform for membership, professional development activities, publications, news and communication with nurses across Sri Lanka.
The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the use of digital platforms. Although many activities were restricted during the pandemic, GNFSL continued sharing knowledge through online platforms and subsequently expanded its programme of virtual education and professional engagement.
SLJN- A New Era of Nursing Scholarship
Another major milestone in the Foundation’s history was the establishment of the Sri Lankan Journal of Nursing (SLJN).
The peer-reviewed journal was launched in February 2022, providing a dedicated scholarly platform for publishing nursing research and academic work. Dr. S.M.K.S. Senevirathne’s visionary leadership and guidance contributed enormously to the initiation of SLJN. She also served as the pioneer Editor -in – Chief of the publication.
SLJN is a biennial peer-reviewed publication, complementing the broader professional and educational role of New Vision.
The establishment of the journal represented an important expansion of GNFSL’s contribution from professional communication and continuing education towards the promotion and dissemination of nursing scholarship and research.
A Growing Commitment to Nursing Education Research and Professional Development
As GNFSL developed, its activities increasingly reflected its commitment to continuing professional development, higher education, research and evidence-informed nursing practice.
The Foundation’s objectives include encouraging nurses to pursue further learning and higher education, increasing awareness of nursing research, promoting professional relationships among nurses and other professionals, and contributing to the quality of nursing care provided to the public.
The Foundation has progressively expanded its educational activities to include academic sessions, workshops, webinars, research training, professional development programmes and knowledge-sharing activities.
Its more recent programme of activities includes workshops on quantitative and qualitative research, research instrument validation, academic writing, research writing and publication, as well as seminars and professional education sessions.
Through these activities, GNFSL has sought not only to support individual nurses but also to contribute to the broader advancement of nursing knowledge and practice in Sri Lanka.
Leadership Through the Years
The development of GNFSL has been shaped by successive generations of nursing leaders who have contributed their time, expertise and commitment to the Foundation.
Following Mrs. Malinie Ranasinghe’s inaugural presidency, leadership passed through several prominent nurse academics and professionals such as Mr. B. Sunil S. De Silva,Ms. Sujatha Seneviratne, Dr. S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, Dr. M.K.D.L. Meegoda, Dr. K.A. Sriyani and Dr. M.R.S. Jayathilake.
This succession reflects the Foundation’s continuing leadership by experienced nurses and nurse academics from different parts of the profession.
Continuing the Legacy
More than two decades after its establishment, GNFSL continues to develop as a professional organisation serving graduate nurses across Sri Lanka.
In recent years, GNFSL has strengthened its engagement with nursing undergraduates by introducing opportunities for students to join the Foundation as Associate Members.
Promotional activities, including sessions conducted for nursing undergraduates, have sought to introduce future nurses to professional networking, continuing professional development and the role of a professional nursing organisation.
Looking Towards the Future
The history of GNFSL is ultimately a history of collective professional commitment.
Generations of graduate nurses, office bearers, academics and nursing professionals have contributed to building the Foundation and sustaining its activities. The organisation’s continuing purpose is to bring nurses together, support lifelong learning, promote research and professional development, strengthen professional relationships and contribute to the advancement of quality nursing practice.
To strengthen our professional community and sustain our services to the nursing fraternity, GNFSL welcomes the active involvement of undergraduate nursing students and graduate nurses from academia, research, clinical practice, community health, and healthcare administration, both in Sri Lanka and abroad, whose collective expertise, commitment, and collaboration will help us continue to advance the nursing profession.
As GNFSL moves forward, it carries with it more than two decades of professional experience and a growing body of publications, activities and achievements. Its history provides the foundation for its future—to unite graduate nurses, strengthen the nursing profession and contribute to better health care for the people of Sri Lanka.
From 2003 to the present, GNFSL continues to build on its legacy:
Education for Excellence.
