In a busy classroom nestled in the heart of Batticaloa, a group of determined women sit attentively as a senior consultant begins the morning session of the midwifery course at the Public Health Training Centre. Among them is K. Varaniya, a trainee Public Health Midwife from Valachchenai. With steady eyes and a confident voice, she explains what brought her here. “Our role in the health sector is crucial,” she says.

“It relates to child and maternal care all over the world. This centre supports trainee Public Health Midwives like me through essential facilities, so that we can better serve mothers and babies.”

Like many others in the classroom, Varaniya represents a new generation of midwives committed to making every childbirth safe, and every mother’s journey a little less daunting.

A Calling from the Heart

For T. Dineshika, who travelled from Kandy to pursue her training, the decision to become a midwife was born from compassion and purpose. “Growing up, I have always wanted to help pregnant mothers in need and to help little babies see the world,” she shares.

“This facility has been a guiding light in my journey to become a midwife. We’re provided with everything; from accommodation to meals, and most of all, care and knowledge. Our instructors treat us like their own children. I thank UNFPA for its support to help us serve mothers in need.”

 

Behind the scenes, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with generous funding from the Government of Japan and other partners, is working hand-in-hand with the Government of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, to transform training centres like the Provincial Health Training Centre (PHTC) in Batticaloa into nurturing grounds for health professionals.

With newly established infrastructure including a fully furbished Computer Unit, the centre is not only training midwives to pursue their traditional role but also preparing them for the digital age of public health.

Training Rooted in Community

Dr. A. Lathaharan, Consultant Community Physician for the Eastern Province, oversees the wider scope of training at the centre. “This centre plays a key role in building the public health workforce in the region and beyond,” he explains.

“We’ve trained over 3,000 staff since our establishment in 2017. We’ve conducted training courses for PHIs (Public Health Inspectors), PHMs (Public Health Midwives), dispensers, attendants. Just recently, 46 PHIs and 42 PHMs completed their training here and received appointments.”

 

He went on to note with pride that the Batticaloa PHTC is the only centre in Sri Lanka that offers training for Tamil-speaking midwives, a vital need in communities across the country. “In fact, out of the 1,000+ midwives recruited nationwide in the latest intake, 94 Tamil-speaking PHM trainees are being trained right here,” he added.

For J. Fathima Sajitha from Trincomalee, the journey to becoming a midwife was unexpected. Working as a henna artist just a year ago, she was spotted and encouraged by a respected elder in her community to apply for the midwifery programme at the PHTC.

“I had no idea what to expect. But when I arrived, I saw how well set up the centre was. Smart classrooms, passionate instructors, lectures from top consultants, this has been a huge opportunity to learn and grow.”

 

Empowering Through Infrastructure

The training centre in Batticaloa is one of three supported by UNFPA, alongside those in Mahamodara and Narahenpita. With the growing need for digital literacy in healthcare, the newly established computer lab at the Batticaloa PHTC is a game-changer.

“This is the first of its kind in the Eastern Province’s health system,” says Dr. Lathaharan.

“We’ve identified that many field staff still struggle with basic digital skills. With electronic health surveillance and data systems becoming the norm, this lab is critical for ensuring they can adapt.”

 

Beyond the Health Sector

The impact of this centre extends well beyond training just midwives. As Dr. Darshini, Medical Officer-in-Charge of the centre, puts it: “We offer in-service and national training. From public health inspectors to bus drivers, we’ve trained thousands. But our biggest strength is our human resources. We have committed doctors, professors, and medical consultants who are happy to dedicated their time to training the new generation. What we need more of is financial support - so we can sustain and upscale.”

While challenges remain in terms of limited transport, accommodation shortages, and budget constraints, what stands out is the unwavering commitment of those who work here.

“We have the capacity. If we can strengthen our infrastructure, we can do even more. We can train more midwives. We can reach more communities.”

 

Every Pregnancy Wanted. Every Childbirth Safe.

UNFPA’s support for centres like Batticaloa is rooted in its global mandate: to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

By investing in midwives, UNFPA is investing in healthier futures—for mothers, for newborns, and for entire communities. The dedication of trainees like Varaniya, Dineshika, and Fathima is proof that with the right support, midwives can do more than deliver babies.

They can deliver change. They can deliver dignity. To women across Sri Lanka.