• Meeting with Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe & Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana unsuccessful as 3-weeks sought despite accepting to consider unions’ proposals, claims top unionists 

While the Government has sought three weeks to respond to the health sector non-medical employees’ unions’ demand regarding the increase in the disturbance, availability, and transport (DAT) allowance of Rs. 35,000 being provided to doctors to also be afforded to them, the unions are yet to decide on the future of their course of action following the conclusion of the 24-hour token strike today (17).

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (16) following the meeting held with the Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe (Finance Minister and President Ranil Wickremesinghe is out of the country at present) and the Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) President and the Paramedical Services Front, and the Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) Executive Committee Member Upul Rohana said that the discussion was unsuccessful as the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies had asked for three weeks to reach a decision regarding the demands of the unions. 

He also claimed, however, that both Semasinghe and Dr. Pathirana accepted the series of proposals submitted by the HTUA regarding the increase in the DAT allowance by Rs. 35,000 to be afforded to them, which is demanded by the unions of the paramedical services. He also said that the unions decided to halt the token strike, which commenced last morning, by this morning, and that they hope to reach a decision in the days to come about their future course of action.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday, HTUA Convenor Ravi Kumudesh said that the 24-hour strike launched by the unions was carried out successfully despite the Government’s efforts to obstruct it by deploying military personnel to hospitals to carry out the minor services. He also said that the series of proposals put forward by them do not contain any demands that are not possible to be fulfilled, as all those are reasonable and easy to fulfil.

Around 72-75 unions in the healthcare service, excluding doctors, launched a 24-hour token strike at 6.30 a.m. yesterday while the unions decided to carry out only essential duties. The unions took this action, demanding an allowance increase of Rs. 35,000, which was granted only to the doctors.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said that tri-force personnel have been mobilised to support hospital operations amid the island-wide strike launched by health sector non-medical employees. However, Dr. Pathirana held discussions with the unions that launched the strike and reportedly promised to take this matter up with Semasinghe yesterday. 

Accordingly, the strike action, led by the health service unions, representing a wide range of health sector professionals including in the paramedical services, including approximately 100,000 radiology and laboratory technicians, pharmacists, drug compounders, midwives, PHIs, entomology officers, hospital secretaries, administrative officers, health administrative assistants, and minor staff, was slated to continue until 6.30 a.m. today. Semasinghe had said that he was to meet Dr. Pathirana later last evening to discuss the concerns of the health sector and find solutions. Dr. Pathirana had invited the striking trade unions to a discussion on the matter.