Doctors on warpath with Govt.

• Token strike on March 05 
• Union leaders warn that if discussions fail, they will escalate protests  

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Frustration in the medical community reached boiling point as doctors have warned of an island-wide strike starting from March 5 due to the reductions in additional duty and holiday allowances for government doctors. Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa stated that these allowances had been reduced under the 2025 budget.  “The additional duty and holiday allowances for doctors must be restored. 

If this correction is not made by March 6, the GMOA will take strict decisions from March 7,” Dr. Sugathadasa added.   
Meanwhile, representatives of 20 health unions have announced that health professionals across Sri Lanka will stage a token strike from 8:00 a.m. on March 6 in protest against allowance cuts.   
Union leaders warned that if scheduled discussions with the Health Ministry fail to yield a solution, they will escalate their actions.   
They also noted that the deadline given to Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa to reverse the allowance reductions expired yesterday, leaving them with no choice but to take trade union action.   
In response to the grievances, a senior official from the Health Ministry told Daily Mirror that the ministry is open to discussions and that it is unfair to resort to trade union action over something that can be resolved through proper discussion.