From the first Health Unit in Kalutara to a nationally trusted authority — the milestones, leaders and decisions that shaped the Family Health Bureau.
Decades of policy, programmes and service expansion across the nation.
An organized effort to provide maternal and child health services commenced with the introduction of the Health Unit System in 1926 — Kalutara being the first health unit, led by a Medical Officer of Health.
Government accepted family planning as a national policy and integrated it with the already developed Maternal and Child Health services provided by the Ministry of Health.
A separate division was established within the Ministry of Health to implement the programme nationwide. Initially designated as the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
The MCH Bureau was re-designated as the Family Health Bureau (FHB) to highlight the integrated nature of MCH/FP services — becoming the central organisation for planning, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the Family Health Programme.
The post of Assistant Director was upgraded to Director / Maternal and Child Health, and a comprehensive information management system for Maternal and Child Health was established.
The National Policy on Maternal and Child Health was published, providing the framework for service delivery and quality across the country.
The first Director appointed was Dr. Terence Perera. Since then, the following successors have led the Bureau to its present thriving status.
1968 – 1970
1971 – 1979
1979 – 1981
1981 – 1986
1986 – 1994
1994 – 1998
1999 – 2008
2009 – 2014
2014 – 2016
2017 – 2018
2018 – 2024
Present
Learn about our vision, mission and the team behind the work.
