The Government Medical Officers’ Association has announced protests at major hospitals across Sri Lanka over the coming days, citing unresolved salary and allowance grievances, staff shortages and what it calls repressive laws.
In a statement, the GMOA said the protests were intended to highlight several unresolved issues affecting medical professionals and the country’s free healthcare system, the Daily Mirror reported.
The association said doctors and other health workers had made considerable sacrifices during the economic crisis, including giving up one-third of their additional duty and holiday allowances in support of economic measures introduced by successive governments.
Despite government statements about economic recovery, the GMOA said, adequate steps had not been taken to address the grievances of healthcare professionals.
The association added that it had repeatedly sought discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and the Health Minister over problems affecting the sector.
What is not specified
The filing does not give the dates of the protests, name the hospitals involved, or say whether the action will affect patient services — the question of most immediate concern to the public. It does not state whether the protests involve a work stoppage or are to be held outside working hours.
Nor does it identify which laws the association describes as repressive. Several professional and business bodies have objected in recent weeks to the government’s proposed counter-terrorism and organised crime bills, but the Daily Mirror’s account does not make that link explicit, and this desk does not assume it.
No response from the government or the Health Ministry is reported, and no other verified newsroom had filed on the announcement at the time of writing.