SummaryThe interneship period is a critical phase in the continuum of training provided to medical students. An analysis was made of the tasks the interne medical officers in Sri Lanka are engaged in during their period of training in different clinical disciplines. Data was collected by direct observations by trained observers for a continuous period of 10 days and self‐reporting by the internes at the two teaching hospitals and four of the provincial hospitals where internes are posted. The reliability of the data was high. The results indicated the wide differences in the learning experiences of the internes in important aspects of patient care in the different training situations. The non‐availability of any guidelines to the consultants with respect to the training intended is another deficiency. The study shows an urgent need to implement a planned and monitored interneship programme in the coun