4 May 2017 05:47 pm
GMOA Secretary Dr. Naveen De Soyza told a media briefing that about 160 trade unions would join hands with them to protest against the SAITM an added that some 30 trade unions of them would protest tomorrow.
“All state medical officers including ayurvedic doctors, dental and veterinary surgeons will be refraining from engaging in services from 8.00 am tomorrow to 8.00 am on Saturday. The workers attached to other trade unions will hold demonstrations and protests around the country,” he said.
He said that the GMOA was urging the government to immediately nationalize the SAITM and the government should refrain from entering into trade agreements with foreign countries such as the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) which may deprive Sri Lankans of job opportunities.
However, he said several hospitals including the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Castle Street Hospital for Women, De Soysa Hospital for Women in Colombo and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialized Children's' Hospital in Kandy, National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama and all kidney, emergency treatment units would be open for patients despite the strike.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teacher's Union (CTU) Secretary Joseph Stalin told the Daily Mirror that the teachers and principals representing 14 unions attached to all state schools would refrain from engaging in their services tomorrow by holding a sick leave campaign in order to safeguard the free education in the country.
Railway Guards’ Association Secretary P.M.P. Peiris said the railway guards and drivers would also refrain from engaging in their services tomorrow against the SAITM and to oppose on the government’s proposal which could lead to a removal of the pension scheme.
Meanwhile, students attached to state universities would refrain from attending to lectures tomorrow in protest of the SAITM and several lectures attached to state universities would also refrain from engaging in the service. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)
Video by Sanjeewa