Registration
The Sri Lanka Medical Council registers medical practitioners, dental practitioners, allied health professionals, overseas practitioners, and graduates under various statutory frameworks.
Introduction
The Sri Lanka Medical Council maintains official registers of healthcare professionals who are authorised to practice medicine, dentistry and fields related to allied healthcare in Sri Lanka. Registration ensures that practitioners meet the required standards of education, competence, and professional conduct before providing healthcare services to the public.
The Council registers medical practitioners, dental practitioners, and allied health professionals, and also provides pathways for medical and dental graduates seeking internship and overseas professionals who are visiting for short term activities to obtain registration where appropriate.
Practicing medicine in Sri Lanka without a valid registration from the Sri Lanka Medical Council constitutes a legal offence.
Information on registration requirements, application procedures, and applicable fees is provided in the sections below.
Medical Practitioners
Medical practitioners who wish to practice medicine & surgery in Sri Lanka must be registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council. Registration confirms that the practitioner has obtained an approved medical qualification and has fulfilled the requirements for professional practice in Sri Lanka.
Medical graduates from recognised institutions may obtain provisional registration in order to complete the required period of internship training. Upon satisfactory completion of internship and fulfilment of other regulatory requirements, practitioners may obtain registration to practise medicine & surgery.
The Council also maintains a register of Medical Specialists who possess the qualifications prescribed under the Medical Ordinance for registration as Medical Specialists.
Registration Pathway
Provisional Registration
Initial registration granted to graduates who have completed their MBBS or equivalent from a recognised institution. Allows commencement of the mandatory internship.
- Eligible after passing final MBBS exams
- Required to begin internship training
- Supervised practice only
Internship
A compulsory one-year clinical training programme at an approved government hospital. Interns rotate across core disciplines under the supervision of consultants.
- One year at an SLMC-approved hospital
- Rotations: medicine, surgery, obs/gyn & paediatrics
- Assessed by supervising consultants
Registration as Medical Practitioner
The registration enables medical practitioners qualified to practice medicine and surgery in Sri Lanka under Section 29 of the Medical Ordinance upon successful completion of the internship.
- Inclusion into the SLMC Medical Practitioners’ register.
- Renewal of registration required.
Medical Practitioner Services
Access a range of online services including registration-related applications, certificate requests, status verification, qualification updates, and other services available for registered medical practitioners.
Dental Practitioners
Dental practitioners intending to practice dentistry and dental surgery in Sri Lanka must be registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council. Registration is available to individuals who possess recognized dental qualifications and meet the required professional and ethical standards.
Dental graduates may initially obtain provisional registration in order to complete supervised training where applicable, followed by full registration once the required training and regulatory requirements have been fulfilled.
The Council also maintains a register of Dental Specialists who possess the qualifications prescribed under the Medical Ordinance for registration as Dental Specialists.
Registration Pathway
Provisional Registration
Granted to graduates who have completed a BDS degree or an equivalent qualification from a SLMC recognized institution. Allows them to commence the mandatory internship.
- Eligible after passing the final BDS examination or the ERPDS examination.
- Required to begin internship
- Supervised practice only
Dental Internship
A compulsory approved internship period involving clinical training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, and Orthodontics at a dental hospital or institution approved by the SLMC, under the supervision of specialist consultants.
- Compulsory approved internship period at a dental hospital or institution approved by the SLMC.
- Involving clinical training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, and Orthodontics.
- Assessed by supervising consultants
Dental Surgeon Registration
The registration enables dental practitioners qualified to practice dentistry and dental surgery in Sri Lanka under Section 43 of the Medical Ordinance upon successful completion of the internship and fulfilling the other prescribed requirements.
- Inclusion into the SLMC Dental Practitioners’ register.
- Renewal of registration required.
Dental Practitioner Services
Access a range of online services including registration-related applications, certificate requests, status verification, qualification updates, and other services available for registered dental practitioners.
Allied Health Professionals
The Sri Lanka Medical Council also registers several categories of allied health professionals, also referred to in legislation as professions supplementary to medicine.
AHP Categories
Pharmacist
To proceed, you must hold a BSc in Pharmacy from a State University or a CMCC Pharmacist Certificate of Efficiency / Proficiency.
Midwives
A healthcare professional who holds a Certificate of Efficiency as a Midwife issued by the Ceylon Medical College Council and is authorized to practice midwifery in accordance with Section 51 of the Medical Ordinance.
Radiographer
Registered Radiographers and Radiotherapy Technologists operating medical imaging equipment and delivering radiation therapy.
Medical Laboratory Technologist
Registered Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) performing diagnostic laboratory investigations and quality assurance.
Physiotherapist
Registered Physiotherapists holding a BPT or equivalent. Provides evidence-based physical rehabilitation and therapeutic intervention.
Occupational Therapist
A healthcare professional who helps individuals develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work-related skills.
Electrocardiograph Recordist
A healthcare worker trained to perform and record electrocardiograms (ECG) to monitor heart activity.
Audiologist
A healthcare professional who assesses, diagnoses, and manages hearing and balance disorders.
Clinical Physiologist
A healthcare professional who performs diagnostic tests to assess the functioning of body systems such as the heart, lungs, and nervous system.
Electroencephalograph Recordist
A professional responsible for conducting and recording electroencephalograms (EEG) to assess brain activity.
Speech Therapist
Registered Speech-Language Therapists assessing and treating communication, voice, and swallowing disorders.
Chiropodist
A specialist who provides care and treatment for foot and lower limb conditions
Dietitian
A qualified professional who provides medical nutrition therapy and dietary advice to support health and disease management.
Ophthalmic Auxiliary
A healthcare assistant who supports eye care services and assists ophthalmologists in patient care and examinations.
Nutritionist
A professional who provides guidance on healthy eating habits and nutrition to promote overall well-being.
Clinical Psychologist
A mental health professional who assesses and treats emotional, behavioral, and psychological disorders.
Allied Health Professionals Services
Access a range of online services including registration-related applications, certificate requests, status verification, qualification updates, and other services available for registered allied health professionals.
Overseas Professionals
The Sri Lanka Medical Council provides temporary registration for overseas healthcare professionals seeking to engage in approved professional activities in Sri Lanka.
Temporary registration may be granted to practitioners who are invited by the Government of Sri Lanka, recognised institutions in state or private sector, or universities to provide clinical services, participate in teaching activities or academic activities, or support specialized medical programmes.
Temporary registration is granted for a limited period not exceeding 1 year and is restricted to specific roles or institutions. The Council assesses the qualifications, experience, and professional standing of applicants before granting temporary registration.
Temporary registration may be granted under three categories depending on the nature and purpose of the professional activity.
Employment in Hospital (Private Sector)
This category applies to healthcare professionals who are not registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and intend to engage in professional practice in Sri Lanka, particularly within the private healthcare sector. Applicants are required to satisfy the eligibility criteria prescribed by the SLMC and obtain temporary registration prior to engaging in any clinical or professional practice. Temporary registration is granted only for approved employment positions and is subject to applicable conditions, regulatory requirements, and the approval of the Council.
Workshops, Training Programmes
This category is intended for professionals who are not registered in Sri Lanka and who wish to visit the Sri Lanka to conduct workshops, lectures, training programmes, conferences, or other academic and professional educational activities. Temporary registration may be granted for short-term professional or educational engagements approved by recognized institutions or organizations.
Postgraduate Training & Other Supervised Training
This category applies to overseas professionals seeking to undergo Postgraduate Training, supervised training, or educational attachments in Sri Lanka. These activities are intended for learning and professional development purposes and may be subject to specific conditions, supervision requirements, and limitations on clinical practice.
Employment in Hospital (Private Sector)
The Sri Lanka Medical Council may grant Temporary Registration to non-Sri Lankan medical practitioners, dentists, or nurses who are invited to work in Sri Lanka for a limited period in a specific private sector hospital.
Temporary registration is granted under Section 67A of the Medical Ordinance and is subject to approval by the Council.
The steps below outline the application process.
This category applies to non-Sri Lankan citizens seeking temporary registration to work as a Medical Practitioner, Dentist, or Nurse in an approved Private Sector Hospital in Sri Lanka.
TRegistration is granted only for:
- A specific Private Sector Hospital
- A specific post and specialty required
- A maximum period of 12 months
Temporary registration applications must be submitted through the private sector hospital or state hospital where the applicant will be employed.
The hospital must:
- Be registered with the Private Sector Health Regulatory Authority (PSHRA)
- Identify the specific post and specialty for which the applicant is being recruited
- Confirm that the services of the applicant are required.
Before applying for temporary registration, the hospital must advertise the position to determine whether a Sri Lankan citizen is available for the post.
Evidence must be submitted to show that:
- The position was advertised on at least 3 occasions
- Demonstrate that no suitably qualified Sri Lankan citizen was available for the position.
This information must be included in the application submitted to the SLMC.
The form includes:
Part A — Applicant Details
Completed by the applicant. Information required includes:
- Personal details and contact information
- Medical or dental (primary)qualifications
- Registration with a foreign medical council
- Specialist qualifications Details
- Professional experience
- Employment details as a Specialist or Consultant
- Details of the post applied for in Sri Lanka
- Duration of temporary registration requested
- Audit of work in each position in last 5 years
Part B — Employer / Hospital Details
Completed by the Director of the private sector hospital. The hospital must confirm
- Details of the hospital and post offered.
- That the post was advertised
- That no suitable Sri Lankan applicant was available
- That the information provided is accurate
Part C — Recommendation from the Ministry of Health
The completed application must be forwarded to the Ministry of Health for recommendation by:
- Secretary to the Ministry of Health, or
- Director General of Health Services (DGHS)
This recommendation confirms that the employment of the applicant is required.
The applicant must submit the following documents:
- Certificate of First Medical Degree / Dental Degree / Nursing Qualification
- Postgraduate Qualification Certificates (if applicable)
- Certificate of Registration from the Medical Council of the Country of Residence
- Certificate of Good Standing issued within six (06) months preceding the application
- Specialist Qualification Certificates
- Certificate recognizing Specialist Status by the Medical Council of the Country of Residence.
- Verification of all submitted documents
- Certificates of Work Experience
- Two Referee Letters with contact details
- Short Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Copy of the Bio-data Pages of Current Passport
- One Recent Colour Passport-Size Photograph
- Work Audit Report covering the last five (05) years
Documents to be Submitted by the Private Sector Hospital The employing Private Sector Hospital shall submit:
- Copy of Registration Certificate issued by the Private Health Sector Development (PHSD)
- Copies of all advertisements relating to the post
- List of all applicants who responded to the advertisement, indicating: Qualifications Reasons for selection of the proposed applicant Reasons for non-selection of other applicants
- Receipt for payment of the registration fee
A temporary registration fee of USD 540 (subject to change) is payable to the Sri Lanka Medical Council.
This amount includes:
- Registration fee and Processing fee
If the application is not approved, the registration fee will be refunded after deducting the processing fee.
Account Name - Sri Lanka Medical Council
Account Number - 9999605
Bank name - Bank of Ceylon Maradana
The completed application, accompanied by all required supporting documents, the recommendation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Health or the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), and a covering letter from the employing Private Sector Hospital, shall be submitted to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) for evaluation and consideration.
Once the application is received, it is reviewed by the Section 67A Committee of the Sri Lanka Medical Council.
This committee includes:
- President of the SLMC
- Registrar of the SLMC
- Five members of the SLMC
- Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine or nominee
The committee evaluates the qualifications, experience, and professional standing of the applicant before making a recommendation to the Council.
If the application is approved, the Sri Lanka Medical Council will grant Temporary Registration for a period not exceeding twelve months.
The registration:
- Is restricted to the specified hospital, specialty, and specific period
- Does not permit practice elsewhere
- Must comply with all professional and regulatory requirements in Sri Lanka
Applicants will be informed of the decision within approximately eight weeks of receiving the recommendation from the relevant authority.
Renewal
Temporary registration may be renewed if required. Applications for renewal must:
- Be submitted through the hospital
- Be sent to the Ministry of Health at least 14 weeks before the expiry date
- Include a report of the work performed by the practitioner, including any adverse reports if applicable
Important Notes
- Temporary registration is granted only for a specific post and institution.
- Registration may be cancelled if false information is provided or if verified complaints are received regarding professional conduct or clinical care.
- Renewal is not automatic and must be approved by the Council.
Workshops, Training Programmes
Conduct workshops or academic activities Temporary Registration under Section 67A (Category B) of the Medical Ordinance may be granted to foreign medical practitioners, dentists, specialists, or nurses who intend to work in Sri Lanka without remuneration.
This category is intended for professionals who wish to:
01. Provide voluntary healthcare services
02. Participate as resource persons for training programmes
03. Undertake postgraduate training or professional development
Temporary registration allows the practitioner to work only within the specified institution and for the approved purpose.
Applications must be supported by a recognised Sri Lankan institution. The sponsor may be:
- A Medical or Dental Faculty
- The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM)
- A recognised professional body
- The Ministry of Health
- The Director General of Health Services
- Private registered hospital
The sponsoring institution must confirm the nature of the activities to be carried out by the applicant.
The Temporary Registration Application Form (Category B) must be completed. The form includes three sections:
Part A — Applicant Details
To be completed by the applicant. Information required includes:
- Personal and contact details
- Nationality and passport information
- Medical or dental qualifications
- Professional registration in the country of practice
- Current employment details
- Proposed activities in Sri Lanka
- Institution where the applicant will work
- Details of the Sri Lankan specialist who will supervise clinical work
- Period for which temporary registration is requested
Obtain Required Recommendations
The application must be recommended by one of the following authorities:
Part B Recommendations
- Dean of a Medical or Dental Faculty
- Director, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM)
- President of a recognized Professional Body
OR
Part C Recommendations
- Secretary, Ministry of Health
- Director General of Health Services.
- Dean of a Medical or Dental Faculty
The following documents must accompany the application:
- Certificate of primary medical or dental qualification (or nursing qualification)
- Certificate of registration from the relevant professional council in the country of practice
- Certificate of Good Standing issued within the previous six months
- Postgraduate qualification certificates
- Specialist recognition certificate
- Letter from the current employer
- Curriculum vitae
- Copy of the passport (relevant pages)
- Letter of agreement from the Sri Lankan specialist providing clinical supervision
- Relevant province (MOH) Approval letter (if applicable)
These documents allow the Council to verify the professional qualifications and standing of the applicant.
A registration fee of Rs. 9,250 must be paid to and proof of payment attached to the application.
Account Name - Sri Lanka Medical Council
Account Number - 0000371208
Bank name - Bank of Ceylon Maradana
Once the application is received, the Registrar of the Sri Lanka Medical Council will forward the application and the recommendation of the sponsoring authority to the SLMC Management Committee for review.
The Council evaluates the qualifications, experience, and purpose of the visit before making a decision.
The Sri Lanka Medical Council will communicate its decision to the applicant within approximately eight weeks of receiving the application.
If approved, temporary registration will be granted for a maximum period of twelve months and will be limited to the specified institution and activities.
Important Notes
Re-Application After Expiry of Registration
Temporary Registration granted under Category B is valid only for the period approved by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), up to a maximum of 12 months.
Please note that there is no renewal process under this category. Applicants who wish to continue their activities in Sri Lanka after the expiry of the approved registration period must submit a new application, together with all required supporting documents, recommendations, and the prescribed registration fee, for fresh consideration by the SLMC.
Postgraduate Training & Other Supervised Training
For Postgraduate Education and Training (Non-Remunerative)
Temporary Registration under Section 67A (Category C) of the Medical Ordinance may be granted to foreign or dual citizen medical practitioners, dentists, specialists, or nurses who wish to undertake postgraduate education or clinical training in Sri Lanka.
This registration allows the applicant to participate in supervised training or educational activities within a specified institution for a limited period
Temporary Registration under Category C is available for medical practitioners, dental practitioners, specialists, and nurses who intend to undertake postgraduate education or training in Sri Lanka.
Applicants must complete the prescribed application form and ensure that all required information is accurately provided.
- Personal and contact information
- Primary medical or dental qualification
- Nationality and passport details
- Professional registration in the country of practice
- Current employment details
- Proposed training activities in Sri Lanka
- Institution where the training will take place
- Details of the Sri Lankan specialist who will supervise the applicant
- Period for which temporary registration is requested
The application must be recommended by one of the following authorities:
- Dean of a Medical or Dental Faculty
- Director, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM).
- The recommendation should be provided in Part B of the application form.
Applicants must submit all supporting documents specified, Part A, together with the completed application form.
- Certificate of primary medical or dental qualification
- Certificate of registration from the relevant professional council in the country of practice
- Certificate of Good Standing issued within the previous six months
- Postgraduate qualification certificates
- Letter from the current employer
- Curriculum vitae
- Copy of the passport (relevant pages)
- Letter from the Sri Lankan specialist agreeing to supervise the applicant
- Appointment letter from the PGIM / Medical Dental faculty
Registration fee of Rs. 38,500.00 must be paid, and proof of payment should be attached to the application.
Account Name - Sri Lanka Medical Council
Account Number - 0000371208
Bank name - Bank of Ceylon Maradana
Submit the completed application, supporting documents, recommendation, and payment receipt to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).
The Registrar will forward the application to the Management Committee of the SLMC together with the recommendation of the relevant authority for consideration.
The SLMC will communicate its decision within 8 weeks of receiving the complete application.
Temporary Registration is granted under Section 67A of the Medical Ordinance for a maximum period of 12 months and is restricted to practice or training only within the approved institution specified in the registration.
If additional time is required to complete the approved postgraduate education or training programme, an application for renewal may be submitted through the same recommending authority at least 4 weeks before the expiry of the current registration period.
Medical & Dental Graduates
Medical and dental graduates are required to obtain provisional registration from the Sri Lanka Medical Council before commencing internship training in Sri Lanka. Provisional registration is granted to graduates who have completed approved medical or dental degree programmes and meet the required eligibility criteria. This registration only allows graduates to undergo supervised internship training. It does not grant permission for independent professional practice in medicine or dentistry. Upon successful completion of internship, they may apply for full registration and independent professional practice. Information on eligibility requirements, application procedures, required documentation, and internship regulations is available in this section.
Graduates of Sri Lankan Universities
Medical and dental graduates who have successfully completed approved degree programmes at recognized universities in Sri Lanka are eligible to apply for Provisional Registration with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). Provisional registration is required before commencing compulsory internship training in accredited healthcare institutions.
Your Registration JourneyGraduates of Foreign Universities
Medical and dental graduates who have obtained their qualifications from recognized foreign universities may apply for registration with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), subject to meeting the applicable regulatory requirements.
Your Registration JourneyRegistration Fees
The Sri Lanka Medical Council charges prescribed fees for various registration services in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and regulations. Applicable fees for each service can be found under the respective service sections and application pages. Such fees are subject to change and may be revised periodically as per Council decisions.