Trade union actions by healthcare professionals cannot be justified: President

Colombo, March 19 (Daily Mirror) - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the trade union actions by healthcare professionals cannot be justified, considering that the largest salary increase in history granted by a government without any demands or pressure from professional associations has already been implemented.

The President made these remarks during a meeting held today at the Presidential Secretariat with the Public Services United Nurses Union (PSUNU).

He highlighted that despite operating within a constrained economic framework, the government has prioritized increasing the basic salaries of public sector employees in this year’s budget, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. 

This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of the public service, attract skilled professionals and ensure the sustainability of the sector.

The President stated that salaries have been increased under six key categories in the budget. These include a minimum increase of Rs. 15,000 in the basic salary, an increment in overtime and holiday allowances, an 80% increase in salary increments, an upward revision of pension benefits in line with the revised total salary, and an increase in the taxable income threshold.