GMOA warns of escalated TU over unresolved issues

6 February 2026 08:53 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 15 Bookmark

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Colombo, Feb. 6 (Daily Mirror) - The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has warned that it is ready to further intensify its ongoing trade union action to protect Sri Lanka’s free public healthcare and hospital system, citing unresolved professional and administrative concerns.

In a media release issued today, the GMOA said its Central Committee had unanimously decided to continue islandwide trade union action, describing the move as a response to long-standing issues affecting the medical profession.

The association noted that the current action involves doctors withdrawing from duties carried out beyond their official service requirements, which it said were often performed at personal risk and without adequate facilities or financial compensation.

The GMOA stressed that any inconvenience caused to the public due to the ongoing action should be borne by the government and the Minister of Health, whom it holds responsible for failing to address the concerns raised by medical professionals.

Comments - 15

lion Saturday, 07 February 2026 06:14 AM

Call it a strike without covering it with trade union action. Government shouldn't giving to their unreasonable demand. Always they want to be treated as a special profession compared to others.

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Sambo Saturday, 07 February 2026 08:34 AM

Only solution is you shouls be sacked from work. Then we will not hear this cry anymore. You doctors are a waste to space.

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Willows Drive Saturday, 07 February 2026 09:06 AM

Blood sucking leaches hell is the last destination

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Chandra Fonseka Saturday, 07 February 2026 09:16 AM

In spite of the natural disaster that struck Sri Lanka recently, the Government gave the doctors and other Government officers a massive salary increase that was never given in recent years. It is an utter shame that the doctors have resorted to trade union action now. Any one who strikes should hence be treated as vaccated from post and sacked without pensions and any other benifits. In addition their passports should be cancelled and no new passport issued for at least the next seven years !! If they want a new passport let them pay at least 50 Million rupees each as an education tax to the Government as they obtained free education to study. Doctors or anyone else should not be allowed to hamper the progress of the present Government who are trying their best to rebuild this broken and corrupt country.

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Aram Saturday, 07 February 2026 09:21 AM

GMOA must note a point that the minister categorically confirmed those doctors professionals who do not want continue their duty can leave the service by resigning the post ,other trusted conscious doctors will continue their duties. So better leave and do private practice without disturbing health care system.

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Sanath de Fonseka Saturday, 07 February 2026 10:39 AM

There is an act presently (essencial services act) to stop Health workers from resorting to trade union action, also these people should understand that they were given a massive salary increase only recently after the country suffered a massive natural disaster and many thousands lost their lives. Are they not ashamed of themselves ? Are they human or are they animals ? The Government should take action and sack the whole lot if they go on strike and inconveniance the public. never ever take them back to service. our country does not need these pathetic fools. .

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Abdul Saturday, 07 February 2026 10:48 AM

When your entire medical education is funded by the public, your first responsibility is to the public not to union pressure. when doctors withdraw services, patients pay the price. Delayed treatment, unattended wards, and avoidable suffering are not bargaining tools they are failures of duty. Since you all abandon state hospitals and then continue private practice as if nothing has happened. That is not protest; it is profiteering off a crisis you helped create. Blaming the government does not erase ethical responsibility. Doctors choose this action. They choose escalation over care. And when patients are used as leverage, moral authority is lost. Sri Lanka’s free healthcare system is not a hostage. Those who truly serve it return to the bedside not the picket line.

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Abdul Saturday, 07 February 2026 10:54 AM

When doctors withdraw services, patients pay the price. Delayed treatment, unattended wards, and avoidable suffering are not bargaining tools—they are failures of duty. Blaming the government does not erase ethical responsibility. Doctors choose this action. They choose escalation over care. And when patients are used as leverage, moral authority is lost. Sri Lanka’s free healthcare system is not a hostage. Those who truly serve it return to the bedside not the picket line. You cannot abandon state hospitals and then continue private practice as if nothing has happened. That is not protest; it is profiteering off a crisis you helped create.

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Fire the GMOA doctors and recruit immediately the Foreign Qualified doctors without job in Sri Lanka. Saturday, 07 February 2026 11:57 AM

GMOA is blackmailing the government and holding the poor people as hostages. Only solution is fire all the striking doctors. There are ample of foreign qualified doctors without employment in Sri Lanka, recruit them and ask also the UN to deploy their volunteer doctors. MSF - Medicines Sans Frontieres have ample doctors volunteering. Get them to help. Fire all the GMOA doctors striking.

2 11

Frustrated Patient Saturday, 07 February 2026 01:48 PM

Agree with the above. AKD use the Emergency Extension and take strong action against this doctor hooligans. Don't give in to these doctor-thugs.

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Ram P Saturday, 07 February 2026 02:17 PM

If GMOA go on with Strike action soon the Aragalaya youth may take them face to face. If that commences it will be difficult to stop them and any attack on the GMOA Members, the members will have to stomach

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Karalasingam Sivalingam Saturday, 07 February 2026 08:55 PM

Be mindful. Country is in an economic crisis; hence it is adviceable to postpone strike action until 2027.

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GMOA AND ITS MEMBERS ARE A HEARTLESS PACK OF WOLVES TO SAY THE LEAST. Saturday, 07 February 2026 09:20 PM

AGREED WITH ALL THE ABOVE COMMENTS. GMOA SHOULD BE WARNED TOO, "GET ONES (GMOA) ACT TOGETHER OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!!". THE PRESIDENT SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BRING IN THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACT AND CONTINUE THE EMERGENCY THAT WAS EXTENDED. ALL MEDICAL STAFF WHATEVER THEIR DESIGNATION OR STATUS IS SHOULD REPORT FOR THEIR USUAL DUTY AND OR SHIFTS, FAILING TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN TREATED AS HAVING VACATED ONES POST. I AM SURE WE COULD CALL FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND ALL OTHER MEDICAL STAF FROM OVERSEAS AND GET THE HEALTH SYSTEM/HOSPITALS ETC BACK TO NORMAL WORKING.

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KARMA WILL GET THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE GMOA'S DECISION LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Saturday, 07 February 2026 09:26 PM

THE PRESIDENT/NPP GOVT SHOULD NOT BEND TO THE GMOA'S DEMANDS. HOW COME THEY DIDN'T TAKE THIS STAND IN THE PAST GOVT/GOVTS AND GET THEIR DEMANDS??. IT HAS GOT TO BE INSTIGATED FROM MEETINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BY BACK SEAT OPERATORS, TO THINK OF THIS ACTION WHEN THEY WERE RECENTLY GIVEN A PAY RISE, LIKE NEVER BEFORE. UNGRATEFUL LOT OF BLOOD SUCKERS, SUCKING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO GO TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE SOME COMPASSIONATE HONEST DOCTORS WHO WILL TURN UP FOR DUTY, HOPEFULLY GET SOME PRIVATE DOCTORS NOT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE TO HELP TREAT THE PEOPLE DURING THEIR HOUR OF MEDICAL HELP/NEED.

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John de silva Sunday, 08 February 2026 09:59 AM

Hey, Opposition! Even if you topple the Govt. Next in line will be ruthless to you all Rogues. But never ever you thieves or anyone around you again. Keep that in mind. People know that you all hungry as devils incarnate.

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