COLOMBO, Sept. 11 -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has received more than 17,000 applications for 500 vacancies across institutions under its purview, Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi told Parliament.

The recruitment drive was launched to address severe staff shortages in 25 state institutions attached to the Ministry, including the Central Cultural Fund and the Department of Archaeology.

"All 25 institutions under my ministry, including the Central Cultural Fund and the Department of Archaeology, are facing severe staff shortages," the minister said, explaining that recruitment was currently being expedited, with a major round of appointments recently carried out for positions ranging from executive...